The methane hunter: Meet the man who is tracking down emissions — from space

Solve for X: Innovations to Change the World

With more than 80 times the short-term warming power of carbon dioxide, methane is a significant climate threat. But finding and fixing methane leaks is no small feat and ground-based detection methods struggle to pinpoint this colourless, odourless gas. In this episode of Solve for X, host Manjula Selvarajah sits down with Stéphane Germain to discuss how his company’s fleet of microsatellites is transforming methane detection. By capturing data from orbit, this satellite technology offers new insights into methane sources, reshaping how we monitor and reduce emissions for a cleaner future.

Featured in this episode:

• Stéphane Germain is the CEO and founder of GHGSat, a global leader in satellite-based methane monitoring. With a background in aerospace engineering, he leads the development of microsatellites that detect greenhouse gas emissions from space, delivering critical data for climate action.

Further reading:

• UN climate summit host Azerbaijan’s gas flaring hits decade-high, study shows
• How MethaneSAT Will Track an Invisible Climate Menace From Space
• Global methane emissions rising at fastest rate in decades, scientists warn
• Methane emissions from gas flaring being hidden from satellite monitors
• New satellite will detect and share CO2 data from individual facilities

Solve for X is brought to you by MaRS, North America’s largest urban innovation hub and a registered charity. MaRS supports startups and accelerates the adoption of high-impact solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. For more information, visit marsdd.com.