MERLIN Support Office
From 30 March to 2 April 2026, global leaders in methane science, policy, and innovation will gather for Methane Action for People and Planet: From Discovery to Solutions — a landmark event marking 250 years since Alessandro Volta’s discovery of methane at Lago Maggiore in 1776.
The conference is hosted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy, in partnership with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Spark Climate Solutions, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), the Global Carbon Project (GCP), and UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory. Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Why This Conference Matters
Methane is one of the most critical levers in the fight against climate change. According to the IPCC, methane is over 84 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year horizon — yet its atmospheric lifetime is only 10–12 years, meaning swift action delivers rapid climate benefits. UNEP
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition confirm that while methane emissions are still rising globally, progress is being made — and that fully implementing the Global Methane Pledge could deliver the largest and most sustained decline in methane emissions in history. UNEP
What to Expect
The conference will feature a Science to Action programme bringing together leading researchers, policymakers, multilateral institutions, journalists, and technology developers to advance a shared understanding of the global methane budget and pathways to transformation. Methane250
Outcomes may include a new science-to-action coalition and a special journal article collection focused on methane policy and science, published in Frontiers in Climate and AGU Journals. Methane250
MERLIN’s Role
At MERLIN, methane monitoring and mitigation is at the heart of everything we do. This conference aligns directly with the work across our projects — from satellite-based detection to policy-relevant emissions data. Events like this remind us why accurate, science-driven methane intelligence is indispensable.
Date: 30 March – 2 April 2026
Location: European Commission JRC, Ispra, Italy
More info: methane250.org
