Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest ways to slow climate change. Many new technologies—such as satellites, drones, and on-site sensors—are being developed to detect and measure methane leaks. However, these tools need to be tested to know how accurate they are.

In this study, we carried out the first public, academic, blinded test of methane detection technologies in Europe, at a research site in France. During the test, controlled amounts of methane were released, and 13 different systems, both academic and commercial, tried to find and measure those emissions without knowing the actual release rates in advance.

The results showed that some tools can detect leaks well, but most systems tended to underestimate how much methane was being released. Weather, especially wind, had a big effect on accuracy. These findings will help improve methane detection technologies and guide policymakers and companies as they work to reduce methane emissions. Strong, reliable tools are essential to track progress and meet new European rules aimed at cutting greenhouse gases and protecting the climate.