"Surprising Study Reveals Alarming Increase in US Energy Sector Methane Emissions"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Guardian
A study has found that US oil and natural gas facilities are emitting three times more methane than official figures suggest, causing $9.3bn in yearly climate damage. The majority of these emissions come from a small number of sites, making the issue both worse than previously thought and potentially fixable. Globally, methane emissions events have increased, with large leaks detected around the world. The study suggests that targeted efforts at the highest-emitting sites could rapidly reduce emissions, with the potential to cut emissions in half. The Biden administration has issued a new rule to cut methane emissions, and 50 oil companies have pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions by 2030.