Reducing emissions would deliver rapid and tangible climate benefits, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) reports that cutting human-caused emissions by about half is one of the most cost-effective ways to curb climate change in the short term.
In 2022, UNEP launched a satellite monitoring system to detect unintentional methane leaks in the oil and gas sectors.
‘Bending the curve’ on emissions
Known as MARS (Methane Alert and Response System), it provides free and accurate information on emissions (which are odourless, invisible and therefore difficult to detect) so that companies and national authorities can act on them.
According to the latest edition of UNEP’s International Methane Observatory publication published on Wednesday, the number of alerts that led to action increased from one percent to 12 percent last year.
The agency says more action is needed to achieve the goal of curbing one-third of methane emissions by 2030.
“Reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the global warming curve, buying more time for long-term decarbonization efforts.”, says Inger Andersen, director of UNEP: “But Significant progress in reporting must translate into emissions cuts..”
A strong response
Ms Anderson urged all companies in the sector to join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, the global standard for the measurement and mitigation of methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, which is essential for regulating the world’s largest oil and gas purchasing market: the European Union.
The MARS system is now being expanded to cover methane emissions from coal mines and waste sites – where measurements have been sparse until now – and UNEP is stepping up detection of emissions from the steel industry, which still relies mainly on coal.
In its report, the UN agency notes that low-cost solutions to methane emissions from coal used in steelmaking exist, but are largely overlooked in efforts to decarbonize the industry.