IEA Claims Missing Methane Emissions

From JPT

An International Energy Agency (IEA) analysis showed that global methane emissions from the energy sector are about 70% greater than the amount national governments have officially reported. 

The Global Methane Pledge is a step forward in reducing methane emissions around the world, but how can countries and companies commit to reduction efforts if we don’t have a trustworthy baseline? 

Decreasing methane emissions can have a major impact on the effort toward reducing climate change. A 30% cut in methane emissions by the end of the decade would have the same effect on global warming by 2050 as shifting the entire transport sector to net-zero CO2 emissions.

A lot of the world’s methane emissions, about 40%, come from oil and gas. And an even larger percentage of the super emitter events come from the industry. This data was discovered using satellite imaging, sensor data, and AI. And more technology is being used to track methane emissions—both by companies themselves but also by outside efforts. 

Several oil and gas companies, as well as public efforts and startups, are using satellites and drones to identify methane leaks and track emissions. That means reporting will become less dependent on individual companies and countries and will instead have external tracking that improves accuracy of measurement and reporting. 

Mark your calendars to get the latest in methane measurements, reporting, regulations, best practices, trends, and tech at this year’s Methane Strategies Forum, June 20-22, 2022 in Houston, TX.