Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), launched at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, is a data-to-action platform set up as part of the UNEP International Methane Emissions Observatory strategy to get policy-relevant data into the right hands for emissions mitigation.

The system will use data from global mapping satellites to identify very large methane plumes and methane hot spots before attributing the emissions to a specific source.

UNEP will then notify governments and companies about the emissions, either directly or through partners, so that the responsible entity can take appropriate action.