Oil and gas producers urged to improve methane measurement

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 07:32 · Archive

A UN report finds most oil and gas producers are not accurately measuring methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

A United Nations Environment Programme report released on Thursday found that many oil and gas producers are not accurately measuring methane emissions. The report assessed the global oil and gas industry's efforts to measure, report and reduce methane, finding that 163 companies from 90 countries had joined the UN's methane-reporting program by 2026, representing 43 per cent of global oil and gas production. However, more than half of global gas and oil production remained outside the reporting program. Australian energy producers were among the most widely represented in the program, although many had yet to adopt its most rigorous standard.

The companies in the program reported about 2.5 million tonnes of methane emissions, with more than two thirds calculated using detailed measurements rather than estimates. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas released during oil and gas production as well as from agriculture and waste.

Martin Krause, climate change division director at the United Nations Environment Programme, said the program's growth demonstrated that it was possible to accurately track methane emissions and identify opportunities to reduce them. 'Methane is the fastest lever we have to slow warming, and the oil and gas sector holds the largest and most cost-effective opportunity to act now,' he said. The findings come weeks before COP31 climate talks in Antalya, Turkey, where reducing methane emissions has been named a key priority.

How it is being reported

• Gas industry urged to pull 'emergency brake' on warmingA powerful greenhouse gas responsible for about a third of global warming is not being accurately measured by many oil and gas producers, a report has found.Perth Now · 15 Oct, 07:02
• Gas industry urged to pull 'emergency brake' on warmingA powerful greenhouse gas responsible for about a third of global warming is not being accurately measured by many oil and gas producers, a report has found.The West Australian · 15 Oct, 07:02

In this story: United Nations Environment Programme · Australia · Turkey · Martin Krause

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