Nine countries responsible for 83% of global gas flaring in 2025, says World Bank report

The World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) report, released 23 June 2026, found that nine countries were responsible for 83% of all global ...

What Happened

The World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) report, released 23 June 2026, found that nine countries were responsible for 83% of all global gas flaring in 2025, while producing only 46% of the world's oil.
The nine countries are: Russia, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Mexico, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, and the United States.
Global gas flaring reached 167 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2025, up from 157 bcm the previous year — the third consecutive annual increase.
The gas burned in 2025 exceeded the total volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that transited the Persian Gulf during the same year, underscoring the scale of waste.
Gas lost to flaring was valued at $54 billion; eliminating routine flaring globally would require an estimated $70–100 billion in upfront investment.

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Gas Flaring: Definition and Process

Gas flaring is the controlled combustion of natural gas — specifically associated petroleum gas (APG), a by-product of crude oil extraction — at oil production sites, refineries, and petrochemical facilities. It occurs when gas cannot be captured, processed, or sold due to absent pipeline infrastructure, limited markets, or technical constraints.

There are two main types: routine flaring (burning APG for economic or operational convenience rather than safety necessity) and safety flaring (emergency burn-off to prevent overpressure explosions — unavoidable).
Flaring produces CO₂, methane (incomplete combustion), black carbon (soot), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Methane is a greenhouse gas with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of ~80× CO₂ over 20 years (GWP-20).
The World Bank estimates flaring generated 429 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2025, including ~50 million tonnes from unburned methane.
Gas flaring has been practiced for over 160 years.

Connection to this news: The 2025 report confirms that despite global climate commitments, routine flaring — the most preventable form — is increasing, with concentration in a few oil-producing nations.

World Bank's Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF) Initiative

Launched in 2015, the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF) initiative is a multi-stakeholder commitment by governments, oil companies, and development institutions to end routine flaring at oil production sites no later than 2030.

Endorsed by over 36 governments and 60+ oil companies as of 2026; together they account for more than 60% of global routine flaring.
The Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership — launched by the World Bank in December 2023 — replaced the earlier Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) Partnership; it broadens focus to include venting and methane leakage.
Necessary technologies to end routine flaring are commercially available; the main barriers are inadequate pipeline infrastructure, absence of gas markets, financing gaps, and weak regulatory enforcement.
Success case: Kazakhstan achieved an 87% reduction in flaring since 2012 through regulatory strengthening and infrastructure investment.
The United States reduced flaring by 7% in 2025 after completing pipeline capacity.

Connection to this news: The 2025 data reveals the ZRF initiative is off track — with global flaring hitting a multi-year high — highlighting the implementation gap between commitments and enforcement.

Methane's Climate Significance

Methane (CH₄) is the second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas after CO₂. Oil and gas sector methane emissions — from flaring, venting, and leakage — are a major contributor to near-term warming.

Methane is responsible for approximately 30% of global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution.
It remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years (vs. centuries for CO₂), making methane reduction the fastest lever to slow near-term warming.
The Global Methane Pledge (launched at COP26, 2021): commitment by 150+ countries to cut methane emissions 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.
Research suggests actual methane emissions from flaring are 5× higher than officially reported in national inventories, due to incomplete combustion.
Acting on oil and gas methane could avoid 0.1°C of global warming by mid-century.
Black carbon from flaring, though short-lived, has an outsized warming effect and causes serious health impacts including preterm birth and childhood asthma.

Connection to this news: The World Bank report's finding that 50 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent methane went unburned in 2025 directly challenges the accuracy of national greenhouse gas inventories submitted under the UNFCCC framework.

India's Position on Gas Flaring

India is not among the nine major flaring nations but is a signatory to international climate frameworks that require reducing oil and gas sector methane emissions.

India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and successive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement commit to reducing emissions intensity of GDP.
India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) governs gas utilisation norms; flaring at domestic facilities is regulated under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas guidelines.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and other Indian producers are subject to environment clearance conditions that restrict routine flaring.
India's Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), 2016, and subsequent Production Sharing Contracts require gas utilisation plans that minimise flaring.

Connection to this news: While India is not in the top nine flaring nations, the global trend of rising flaring directly affects India's climate commitments and the global carbon budget that constrains temperature targets under the Paris Agreement.

Key Facts & Data

Global gas flaring in 2025: 167 bcm (up from 157 bcm in 2024) — third consecutive annual rise.
Nine countries responsible for 83% of global flaring, producing only 46% of world's oil.
Top 9 flaring nations: Russia, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Mexico, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, USA.
Emissions from flaring 2025: 429 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent, including ~50 million tonnes from unburned methane.
Economic value of flared gas: $54 billion.
Cost to eliminate routine flaring globally: $70–100 billion (one-time investment).
Kazakhstan flaring reduction since 2012: 87%.
USA flaring reduction in 2025: 7%.
Zero Routine Flaring (ZRF) Initiative: launched 2015, target year 2030.
Global Methane Pledge (COP26, 2021): 30% reduction in methane by 2030 (vs 2020 baseline).
Methane GWP over 20 years: approximately 80× CO₂.
Flared gas in 2025 exceeded total LNG transiting the Persian Gulf in the same year.