International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its updated Methane Tracker: “Around the world, many countries have made reductions in methane emissions a policy priority as part of their efforts to limit near-term global warming, enhance energy security, and improve air quality. The energy sector—including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy—accounts for around 40% of methane emissions from human activity and has some of the best opportunities to cut these emissions.”
The annually updated Global Methane Tracker provides essential data on methane emissions across the energy sector and the opportunities to bring them down.
The Tracker is based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns. It considers various abatement options and their associated costs.
“This year’s edition includes a chapter on the efforts among numerous countries to develop marketplaces for fuels with near-zero methane intensity. It is accompanied by a template framework to help countries respond to satellite-detected large-emissions events, as well as an update to the IEA’s interactive data tool on methane, which includes enhanced policy tracking for governments and national oil companies.”
Among the key findings:
- Around 70% of fossil-fuel methane emissions come from the top 10 emitting countries.
- Around 30% of methane emissions from fossil fuel operations could be reduced at no cost.
- Upstream activities cause 80% of oil and gas methane, making them the top priority for action.
- Implementing tried-and-tested policies globally could cut oil and gas methane emissions by more than half.
- Momentum is building for a consistent approach to import standards for methane intensity in fuels.
Here is the new Global Methane Tracker.