All articles tagged with #methane leaks
Google has joined a satellite mission aimed at scanning the globe for methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas. The initiative, led by the Environmental Defense Fund, aims to provide more accurate and timely data on methane emissions to help combat climate change. Google's participation will involve providing expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze the data collected by the satellites.
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell 1.9% in 2023, largely due to a steep decline in coal use for electricity generation, reaching its lowest level in 50 years. However, emissions need to decrease three times faster to meet climate goals. The drop in emissions was driven by a decrease in carbon dioxide pollution from power plants, while transportation and industrial sector emissions saw slight increases. The U.S. is making efforts to cut methane emissions, with the Biden administration prioritizing regulations and investments in clean energy technologies. Despite this progress, global carbon dioxide emissions reached record levels in 2023, driven by increased fossil fuel use in fast-growing countries like China and India.
A new study has found that natural gas can be just as harmful to the climate as coal unless companies can significantly reduce the leaks that occur during its production and transportation. Even a small leak of 0.2 percent can make natural gas as detrimental to the climate as coal. The study challenges the notion that natural gas can serve as a transitional fuel to a renewable energy future. Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and there is mounting evidence that methane leaks from gas systems are more significant than previously thought. The study highlights the need to invest in renewable energy infrastructure rather than relying on natural gas as a solution to global warming.