According to the Global Methane Tracker 2026 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), India was one of the largest emitters of methane from coal mines in 2025, releasing 2.2 million tonnes, an increase from 2 million tonnes in 2024. This figure starkly contrasts with India's reported emissions of 0.8 million tonnes to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2020. Rajasekhar Modadugu, a climate and energy analyst at Ember, emphasized the need for global climate organizations to focus on mitigating methane emissions from coal mining. Notably, India has not yet signed the Global Methane Pledge, a commitment aimed at reducing methane emissions, alongside other major coal-producing nations like China and Russia. The report suggests that addressing methane leaks could potentially return 200 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to the market annually, significantly impacting global gas supplies. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for 20-30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution, making its reduction critical in climate change efforts. The report also indicates that current technologies could eliminate 70% of fossil fuel methane emissions at no net cost, highlighting the feasibility of reducing coal mine methane emissions in South and Southeast Asia.