by Victoria Patti | June 24, 2026
The World Bank 2026 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report Shows a Rise in Flaring for the Third Year in a Row
Washington D.C.: Global gas flaring activity increased for the third consecutive year in 2025, reaching an estimated 167 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to the newly published 2026 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report from the World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership. This volume represents the highest level recorded since 2019, emphasizing ongoing challenges in global energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
The Payne Institute for Public Policy’s Earth Observation Group continues to serve as the World Bank’s analytical partner – providing the data used in the Tracker. The assessment utilized Payne’s advanced data modeling derived from three NOAA satellites, implementing an enhanced methodology and an updated flare location catalog to ensure optimal precision in the tracking of global flaring activity.
Key Analytical Insights:
- Economic Implications: The 167 bcm of gas flared in 2025 represents an estimated market value of US$54 billion in wasted energy resources.
- Capital Investment Requirements: The report estimates that the upfront capital expenditure required to eliminate routine flaring globally ranges between US$70 billion and US$100 billion. Consequently, the economic value lost to flaring annually represents approximately half of the total capital required to mitigate the issue globally.
- Regional Performance Variations: While global totals increased, specific regions demonstrated progress. The United States achieved the largest absolute reduction in 2025, decreasing flaring by 0.4 bcm (7%) due to expanded pipeline capacity in the Permian Basin. Additionally, long-term regulatory frameworks in Kazakhstan have resulted in an 87% reduction in flaring volumes since 2012.
The report concludes that mitigating gas flaring offers substantial economic advantages, particularly for developing economies. Capturing associated gas presents an opportunity to expand domestic electricity access, reduce reliance on energy imports, and stimulate local economic development.
The full report and associated datasets are available here:2026 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report.
“ The cost of inaction will be measured in wasted billions in revenue and energy insecurity for millions of people” Zubin Bamji, Manager GMFR.
About the Payne Institute
The mission of the Payne Institute at Colorado School of Mines is to provide world-class scientific insights, helping to inform and shape public policy on earth resources, energy, and environment. The Institute was established with an endowment from Jim and Arlene Payne and seeks to link the strong scientific and engineering research and expertise at Mines with issues related to public policy and national security.
For more information about the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Greg Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.