The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) of the United Nations Environment Program has called for accelerated action to reduce methane and black carbon emission worldwide.

The CCAC will specifically work with leading oil and gas companies to reduce venting, leakage, and flaring of natural gas from oil and gas operations that contribute significantly to the emissions.

According to UN estimates, these operations contribute to nearly 2 gigatons of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions per year.

"These emissions can be readily and cost-effectively addressed with existing technologies and practices. We are inviting oil and natural gas companies to work with the CCAC to collaboratively design mechanisms and voluntary commitments to achieve substantial global methane and black carbon emissions reductions," said the CCAC in a statement.

The coalition’s effort will build upon the achievements of the Natural Gas STAR International Program, the Global Methane Initiative, and the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership.

CCAC is a member-group comprising 28 nations alongside institutions such as World Bank with an objective of reducing short-lived climate pollutants such as methane, black carbon, and many hydroflourocarbons.