A recent report from the U.N. International Methane Emissions Observatory has uncovered a concerning trend: despite issuing 1,200 alerts for methane leaks in oil and gas infrastructure, only 12 of these received substantive responses from governments and companies. This represents a mere 1 percent response rate, highlighting a significant gap in efforts to tackle one of the planet's most potent greenhouse gases.
Roland Kupers, the lead architect of the methane monitoring program, expressed his disappointment during a presentation at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. \"We had expected [the response rate] to be substantially higher,\" Kupers stated, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
Many of the notified entities had committed to a global pledge initiated three years ago, aiming to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030. However, the low response rate suggests that commitments are not translating into tangible actions.
Inger Andersen, executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme, criticized the lack of proactive measures. \"Governments and oil and gas companies … must stop paying lip service to this challenge,\" Andersen urged. \"They should recognise a significant opportunity that this system presents and start responding by plugging leaks that are spewing out climate-warming methane.\"
Methane's impact on global warming is substantial, with its warming power 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. To date, methane emissions have contributed approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius to global warming, accounting for a third of the temperature rise since the mid-19th century.
Experts advocate that addressing methane leaks from oil and gas wells and equipment is one of the quickest ways to mitigate its effects. Not only does this approach benefit the environment, but it also makes financial sense, as lost methane equates to lost product.
Despite 150 countries backing the Global Methane Pledge and about 140 companies joining the U.N.'s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, methane emissions from the industry have remained at record highs since 2019. This persistent challenge underscores the need for more robust and immediate actions to combat methane pollution.
Reference(s):
UN: Countries, companies lag in response to methane emissions report
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