Latest news with #GlobalMethanePledge
Mint
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
David Fickling: How a simple valve can cut fossil fuel emissions but won't
A world that's serious about cutting a quarter of the world's emissions that come from methane should be expecting a boom in electric valve actuators. If your response is 'a what?" you're not alone. But this humdrum piece of equipment is one of the lowest-hanging fruit if we want to rein in methane leaks, which warms the atmosphere 72 times as rapidly as carbon dioxide. At the 2021 Glasgow climate conference, global leaders unveiled the Global Methane Pledge, a promise to cut emissions of this gas 30% by 2030. Nearly four years on, progress isn't just falling short, it's non-existent. Our failure to replace millions of devices that routinely vent methane (CH4) into the atmosphere is a sign of how lacklustre efforts have been. Also Read: Reduce oil and gas production, don't just make it leak less methane Actuators are ubiquitous throughout the oil and gas industry, which uses them as automated taps to control pressure and flow in the millions of miles of pipes connecting petroleum fields to refineries and processing plants. Traditionally, they're powered not by electricity, but by the pressure of the gas itself. The side effect of that method is that they're constantly leaking small amounts into the atmosphere. Across more than 6 million such devices in the US alone, this pollution adds up: More than half of CH4 leaks result from such pressure-powered controllers. A single one can seep 260 million cubic feet of gas a year, equivalent in emission terms to burning 33 barrels of oil. There's a better way of doing things. Electric actuators cost $3,500 and, hooked up to a solar panel, can be set up anywhere. They avoid the routine venting caused by traditional controllers while also sending useful data back to operators. The initial cost is higher, but they pay for themselves in a few years, thanks to lower maintenance costs and revenues from all the gas that stays in the pipe. Also Read: We want FTA with India and it will be fair to both: New Zealand envoy Indian plans to open LNG terminal in Iraq run into How is that business doing? Not so great. Rotork, a British manufacturer with about half the North American market for wellhead electric actuators, is currently trading around its lowest valuations in nearly a decade. The odds of a quick retrofit at the millions of operating sites seem remote. Despite the US Environmental Protection Agency finally mandating low-emission controllers on new wells last May after three years of wrangling, Rotork isn't expecting more than 40% to go electric until 2040. The idea behind the Global Methane Pledge was that fossil-fuel producers were leaving money on the table by wasting gas via leaks and oilfield flares. With US gas priced at $5.54 per million British thermal units at the time and global consumption forecast to increase 21% by 2040, the economics of installing new equipment to turn the waste into revenue seemed compelling. Things look different now. Gas prices are a third lower, while demand is not expected to ever increase more than about 5% from current levels. Optimists about voluntary promises have had a brutal lesson in the efficient markets hypothesis. If there was really a financial advantage in replacing gas-leaking actuators with less polluting ones, the industry would have done it already. That's a small, but telling, symptom of a wider failure. The latest estimates of methane emissions by the International Energy Agency (IEA) show no sign of change. Almost halfway to the pledge's target date, pollution by the fossil-fuel sector is still roughly the level it was at the start of the decade. If the US under former President Joe Biden was unable to get the industry to make the most basic of plumbing upgrades to cut its carbon footprint, what hope is there that the likes of Russia and Iran will do the same? Also Read: Counter-intuitive: Why Opec wants lower oil prices To the extent we've made any climate progress on methane in recent years, it's come not from the earnest do-gooders in Glasgow, but the worst actors on the global stage. Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine was intended to make the world even more dependent on the biggest gas exporter, Russia. Instead, it caused consumers to switch from cheap piped methane to costlier but more energy-secure shipped LNG. That has driven up average long-term prices and weakened the prospects for demand growth. The IEA has cut its estimates for gas consumption in 2030 by about 250 million tonnes relative to where they were at the time of the Glasgow conference. In 2050, it reckons we'll be 735 million tonnes shorter. In climate terms, that reduction in demand makes almost as much difference as all our efforts to clean up the industry's waste. The Global Methane Pledge may have failed, but our efforts to rein in emissions have not. The best prospect was always to count not on the fossil-fuel industry's altruism or self-interest, but its ability to sabotage itself. ©Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change and energy.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Methane emissions remain high, 120 million tonnes released in 2024
The IEA's data, drawn from satellite observations, measurement campaigns and scientific studies, indicates that global energy-related methane emissions are approximately 80% higher than those reported to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The gap is the smallest in Europe, where measurement-based reporting is more prevalent. In 2024, oil operations emitted about 45 Mt, natural gas 35 Mt, and coal 40 Mt, with abandoned wells and mines adding 8 Mt—a new metric in this year's tracker. These abandoned facilities alone would rank as the world's fourth-largest fossil fuel methane emitter. Satellites are revolutionising methane monitoring, with over 25 now in orbit, including MethaneSAT and Tanager-1, launched in 2024. These tools detected a record high in large methane leaks from oil and gas facilities last year, despite reduced coverage. GHGSat's 16,400 observations in 2024 identified nearly 11,700 leaks, 9,600 from oil and gas. 'Satellites are game-changers, exposing persistent leaks and guiding regulatory action,' said Jane Ellis, a senior IEA analyst. The economic case for methane abatement is compelling. About 30% of 2024's fossil fuel methane emissions could have been avoided at no net cost, as captured gas often offsets abatement costs. Leak detection and repair (LDAR) programmes and equipment upgrades, like swapping wet compressor seals for dry ones, can yield returns exceeding 25% within a year. In India, where oil and gas upstream methane intensities are double the global average, such measures could be transformative. 'The financial logic is clear, yet awareness and investment barriers persist,' analysts say. Methane abatement could also strengthen energy security. The IEA estimates that capturing methane could have added 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to global markets in 2024—matching Norway's total gas exports. Additionally, 150 bcm of gas is flared annually, much of it unnecessarily. 'This is gas that could power industries or heat homes,' Birol said. In India, where energy demand is rising, capturing flared gas could support economic growth while reducing emissions. India, a major methane emitter in South and Southeast Asia, contributed significantly to the region's 10 Mt of fossil fuel methane emissions in 2024, with half from coal mines. The country plans to double coal output by 2030, potentially exacerbating emissions. Unlike most regional peers, India has not joined the Global Methane Pledge, though its national oil company, ONGC, participates in the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC). 'India's coal reliance poses a challenge, but its oil and gas sector has abatement potential,' Indian experts say. Surface mines, dominant in India, limit coal abatement options, but LDAR and gas utilisation could cut oil and gas emissions significantly. Sabina Assan, methane analyst at global energy think tank Ember, said 'Coal, one of the biggest methane culprits, is still being ignored. There are cost-effective technologies available today, so this is a low-hanging fruit of tackling methane. We can't let coal mines off the hook any longer.' Globally, methane pledges, including the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and OGDC, cover 80% of oil and gas production, but only 5% meets near-zero emissions standards. The GMP, with 159 countries, aims for a 30% methane cut by 2030—equivalent to eliminating the transport sector's CO2 emissions. Yet, only half of these pledges have detailed policies. Regionally, performance varies. China, the largest emitter at 25 Mt, focuses on coal mine methane recovery. North America emitted 23 Mt, with Canada targeting a 75% reduction by 2030. In the Middle East and North Africa, flaring drives 25% of 20 Mt emitted. The IEA's Methane Abatement Model highlights pathways to cut oil and gas emissions by 75% and coal by 50% by 2030. "The tools exist, the data is improving, and the economics make sense,' Birol urged.
Axios
07-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Countries lagging on curbing methane emissions, new report says
Countries' pledges to cut methane aren't translating into nearly enough on-the-ground action to send emissions downward, the International Energy Agency finds in a new report. Why it matters: The powerful planet-warming gas is responsible for nearly one-third of global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution, IEA said. The energy sector accounts for over 35% of methane from human activity. The big picture: Recent years have brought moves like the Global Methane Pledge, a multinational effort launched at the 2021 UN climate summit to drive a 30% cut in human-induced emissions by 2030. Another is the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter in 2023. Reality check: While a number of oil and gas companies are curbing methane, their efforts are not yet game-changing on a global basis. "[S]o far, few countries or companies have formulated real implementation plans for these commitments, and even fewer have demonstrated verifiable emissions reductions," IEA notes. State of play: Record oil, gas and coal production, combined with "limited" mitigation, have kept emissions above 120 million metric tons annually, IEA said. Agriculture is the biggest human-caused source, and waste is large, too. But energy has the greatest potential for near-term, cost-effective cuts, IEA said. Democrats included a fee on oil and gas industry methane emissions in the 2022 climate law, but both chambers of Congress this year voted to overturn it. Friction point: The IEA study wades into whether natural gas has a climate edge over coal on a lifecycle basis, i.e., including methane emissions in the value chain. IEA's answer? Generally yes, but comparing gas only to coal "sets the bar too low." The report also reveals that IEA's working on a big analysis of LNG-linked emissions and options for cutting them. Stunning stats: This year's tracker has first-time IEA estimates of methane from abandoned infrastructure. Former coal mines released 5 million tons last year, while another 3 million came from abandoned oil and gas wells. "Combined, these sources would be the world's fourth-largest emitter of fossil fuel methane," IEA finds, behind operational sites in China, the U.S. and Russia. IEA estimates around 8 million abandoned oil and gas wells globally, with many in the U.S., though they note that properly-plugged wells emit little.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medical experts sound alarm on shocking factor contributing to heart attacks — here's what you need to know
You might think air pollution only contributes to lung disease or cancer. However, medical experts are warning that it can also play a role in heart disease. The third Illness to Wellness Summit took place in New Delhi in March 2025, with the Millennium Post reporting on the happenings and outcomes. During the event, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital medical superintendent Dr. Sandeep Bansal said, "Air pollution also kills by way of cardiovascular diseases." Bansal explained that tiny air particles known as particulate matter "enter the bloodstream and can transform cholesterol in the body into oxidized cholesterol, which can lead to plaque ruptures." Plaque ruptures in the coronary arteries are the most common cause of heart attacks, according to UpToDate. Bansal's team conducted research to reach this conclusion, according to the Post. Their study found that even a slight increase in particulate matter from one week to the next can contribute to more heart attacks. This discovery could affect millions of people who may not know they're at risk. Air pollution comes from many human-driven sources, including factories, vehicles, and wildfires. It's especially prominent in big cities, where pollutants can get trapped by large buildings and structures. By connecting the dots between air pollution and heart health, doctors could better identify people with an increased risk of heart disease. They might even ask patients about air pollution exposure as part of routine heart disease screenings. This could result in earlier, life-saving interventions. The link between the two also stresses the importance of clean air policies that push for stricter rules on planet-warming pollution, such as regulations requiring automakers to put more emphasis on electric and hybrid vehicles. Regulations are making headway in reducing air pollution. Countries participating in the Global Methane Pledge — including the United States — have committed to reducing methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. The Environmental Protection Agency has also cracked down on vehicle modification device manufacturers with hefty fines for producing polluting products. However, billions of people don't have the resources or tools to measure air quality and determine whether the air they breathe is healthy. There's still a long way to go to improve air quality and save lives. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. For individuals, one impactful way to cut down on air pollution and protect both yourself and your community is by switching to an electric vehicle. You can also upgrade to greener everyday items, like using efficient appliances, opting for electric yard equipment instead of gas-powered, and turning off your car whenever possible instead of letting it idle. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Reuters
28-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Commentary: US LNG exporters could hit methane snag in Europe
March 28 - The Trump administration's broad policy goal of achieving 'energy dominance', opens new tab may run into headwinds in the country's largest export market, the European Union, due to new methane regulations. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that the EU may be willing to import more U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), in part to reduce the bloc's trade deficit with the U.S., making this happen could get complicated. First, many utilities in the EU are hesitant about signing long-term LNG contracts, opens new tab given the uncertainty, opens new tab about the region's future gas demand and the price impact of the product's expected supply growth, opens new tab in the coming years. Rapidly deteriorating political relations with Washington are also not helping. Another complicating factor is the EU Methane Regulation, opens new tab that was adopted in August 2024. This framework established rules and obligations for companies operating in the EU related to monitoring, reporting, and verifying methane emissions as well as deterring and addressing methane leaks. This framework did not emerge in a vacuum. A major effort has been underway globally to better measure and monitor methane emissions associated with fossil fuel production and transport, as illustrated by forums such as the Global Methane Pledge, opens new tab, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership, opens new tab, and the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, opens new tab. The U.S. was previously part of this movement. The Biden Administration adopted a set of measures, including a methane fee, to curtail so-called 'fugitive' methane emissions from oil and gas systems through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)., opens new tab But the efforts in the U.S. are now facing headwinds in the early days of the Trump administration. PESSIMISTIC SCENARIO Going into 2025, the optimistic view was that the framework installed by the previous administration could be amended to make sure that U.S. LNG exporters could benefit from looser rules in the U.S. while still being able to compete in the global marketplace with a supposedly superior product. Unfortunately, early indications are that a more pessimistic scenario is playing out. In February, the U.S. Senate repealed the aforementioned fee on excess fugitive methane emissions, though the outright elimination of these fees is proving more difficult, opens new tab due to other stipulations in the IRA. More fundamentally, President Trump, in one of his executive orders, opens new tab, urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to challenge and possibly rescind the Agency's 2009 endangerment finding, which concluded that six types of greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and welfare. The EPA may face legal and scientific barriers, opens new tab if it tries to rescind this finding, as the EPA's authority and obligations to regulate GHG emissions have been cemented in the Clean Air Act through the IRA. But even talk about a change of this magnitude is generating significant uncertainty among U.S. energy producers, especially LNG exporters who still need to comply with stricter environmental rules in Europe. PATH FORWARD So what is next for U.S. LNG? Global demand for natural gas is robust and likely to remain so for decades. And U.S. LNG companies, which tend to have a long-term focus given the lengthy lead time of their projects, are apt to look beyond the Trump administration and seek to abide by European environmental standards to further cement their growing market share there. It is notable that American companies have been among the few to constructively engage with Brussels to find a pragmatic path to implement the current methane rules. However, U.S. natural gas supply chains are incredibly complex, and technologies to help detect and mitigate GHG emissions are by no means perfect. Consequently, improving the environmental footprint of U.S. LNG will be a long-term process. And that process may now be severely disrupted, so it will likely come down to the industry itself to make progress, possibly in close collaboration with lawmakers and regulators in jurisdictions like the EU. On the U.S. side, the LNG industry could push the Trump Administration to preserve the IRA's tax credits for carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology, which Secretary of Energy Chris Wright seems to support, opens new tab, as do many oil and gas companies, opens new tab. And natural gas producers and shippers could make it clear how disruptive, and thus counterproductive, it would be for the endangerment finding to be rescinded. In a less constructive scenario, U.S. policymakers could mirror their counterparts in Qatar, who in December indicated to the European Commission that LNG exports would be halted if the country's state-owned company were to be fined under the bloc's corporate sustainability directive. The White House could also push back against the EU Methane Regulation or make it part of larger tariff negotiations, opens new tab. U.S. gas producers, LNG exporters, and EU lawmakers have an interest in preventing a zero-sum showdown, but it remains unclear how they will navigate this unfamiliar energy landscape where, at least politically, the U.S. and EU are moving further apart. (The views expressed here are those of Dr. Gautam Jain, a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) of Columbia University, and Dr. Tim Boersma, a consultant and a Fellow at CGEP.)
