The Associated Press, in a report published by Fortune, said that Scott donated $60 million to the Global Methane Hub, which funds projects to reduce the gas. The gift was part of $7.1 billion in new donations she announced on December 9, 2025. You cannot see or smell methane, yet it plays a big role in warming the planet. That’s why the gift from MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is worth a second look.
The Global Methane Assessment , a report by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, found that human-caused methane emissions could be reduced by as much as 45% by 2030. Such a cut would prevent warming from being nearly 0.3°C higher by 2045. About 60% of these measures are low-cost, and better waste management could help too. The Hub says that it allocates funds to energy, agriculture, and waste programs and works toward cutting global methane emissions 35% by 2030, measured against 2010 levels. That is the Hub’s own target, while UNEP’s 45% shows what is technically possible with available measures, so the two figures are not competing forecasts. Scott’s $60 million will not close that gap alone.
Most of the measures specific to methane are in the fossil fuel industry, in which methane leaks are easier to detect and address, according to the assessment. But, as the Hub’s CEO told AP, flexible funding like this can act as a bridge while governments and businesses decide how fast to move. The assessment’s authors explained methane breaks down fast, so cuts can slow warming in the short term. Funding is only one piece of the puzzle. The analysis of costs and benefits was conducted country by country to help policymakers identify the best starting point. Such a goal would require joint efforts of governments, businesses, and communities, not only donations.
