Methane Mayhem: Why the Energy Sector's Methane Emissions Might Surpass Records by '24
Energy sector methane emissions nearing record highs in 2024, according to Energy Agency report - Energy Sector Methane Emissions Approach Record High in 2024, According to Energy Agency Report
The energy sector, a culprit responsible for a whopping one-third of human-induced methane emissions, is headed for a near-record high by 2024. This potent greenhouse gas seeps from pipelines and energy infrastructure, and it's intentionally released during maintenance. The all-time high was set in 2019. Reducing emissions is a breeze in terms of climate protection, as it typically incurs minimal costs to seal a leak.
However, recent data suggests that the energy sector's methane reduction measures are moving at a snail's pace compared to targets set. Fatih Birol, the boss of the energy agency (IEA), notes this discrepancy. The agency relies on concrete measurements rather than the estimated emissions reported by governments.
The IEA estimates that actual emissions are approximately 80 percent higher than the total methane emissions reported by countries to the United Nations. The agency has been pointing out this trend for years. However, the data scene has improved recently, as global methane emissions can now be monitored more accurately from space.
For example, the European Sentinel 5 satellite, which exclusively detects the largest leaks, shows that "super-emitter" methane events at oil and gas facilities reached record heights in 2024. These colossal leaks occurred globally, most notably in the US, Turkmenistan, and Russia. Idled oil, gas, and coal mines are also substantial methane emitters.
Methane emissions are one of the most effective weapons in the war against climate change. The IEA predicts that a reduction in methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector could substantially slow global warming and prevent a temperature increase of about 0.1 degrees Celsius by 2050. This would be akin to eliminating all CO2 emissions from global heavy industry altogether.
Roughly 40 percent of global methane emissions stem from natural sources, mainly wetlands. The remainder is due to human activities, including energy consumption and livestock farming.
- Energy Sector Emissions Breakdown:
- Oil operations: 45 Mt
- Natural gas activities: 35 Mt
- Abandoned wells: 3 Mt
- End-use equipment leaks: 2 Mt
- Coal mining (including abandoned mines): 40 Mt
Record fossil fuel production in 2024, including oil, gas, and coal, has kept methane emissions stubbornly high, with about 120 million metric tons annually from the fossil fuel sector alone. Despite methane reduction pledges covering approximately 80% of global oil and gas production, the IEA finds weak implementation of these plans, and existing policies and regulations are insufficient to significantly reduce emissions at present.
Methane emissions face several hampering obstacles:
- Subpar leak detection and control practices lead to substantial methane leakage from fossil fuel operations.
- Methane data collection and monitoring are progressing with satellite technology and measurement campaigns, helping identify large leaks from oil and gas facilities, which reached record levels in 2024.
- Although methane abatement is often cost-effective and could have brought an additional 100 billion cubic meters of gas to market in 2024, implementation lags behind ambitions.
- The IEA underscores methane mitigation as a critical opportunity to reduce near-term global warming, given methane's potency (about 80 times that of CO2 over 20 years).
- Strengthened collaboration between governments and industries is needed to deliver on pledges with the right tools and knowledge.
In essence, methane emissions from the energy sector remain high due to record fossil fuel production, insufficient leak control, and weak enforcement of existing reduction commitments. While data transparency and detection techniques are improving, more robust policies and effective implementation are required to put a cap on emissions and reap the dual benefits of climate mitigation and enhanced energy security as outlined by the IEA’s '24 findings.
- The energy sector's methane emissions, responsible for a significant portion of human-induced methane emissions, are projected to exceed previous records by 2024, making up around 120 million metric tons annually from the fossil fuel sector alone.
- Despite methane reduction pledges covering the majority of global oil and gas production, their implementation is found to be weak by the International Energy Agency (IEA), with existing policies and regulations being insufficient to substantially reduce emissions at present.
- Methane abatement, often cost-effective, could have brought an additional 100 billion cubic meters of gas to market in 2024, but implementation lags behind ambitions, highlighting the need for strengthened collaboration between governments and industries to deliver on pledges with the right tools and knowledge.
