Methane Clips: November 8, 2023

 

Texas Produces Twice As Much Methane As Better Regulated Neighbor, Study Finds. According to The Guardian, “Oil and gas production in Texas is spewing out double the rate of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, than in the more regulated state of New Mexico, new satellite data shared with the Guardian shows, prompting calls for tougher curbs of “super-emitter” sites that risk tipping the world into climate breakdown. Satellite imaging of methane leaks across the Permian basin, a vast geological feature at the heart of the US oil and gas drilling industry, show that sites in Texas have emitted double the amount of the gas than in New Mexico, per unit of production, since 2019. Methane is a potent planet-heating gas, around 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and is routinely released via leaks or intentionally vented and burned, in a process called flaring, by fossil fuel companies when drilling for oil and gas. Scientists have warned of a “scary” surge in methane emissions in the past two decades, posing a major threat to efforts to contain dangerous global heating.” [The Guardian, 11/8/23 (=)]

 

China Releases Plan To Tackle Methane Emissions. According to Politico, “China said Tuesday it would bolster efforts to crack down on emissions of methane, the greenhouse gas that is one of the top two drivers of rising global temperatures. If successful, China's efforts to curb methane could have one of the clearest near-term effects on blunting climate change given it is 86 times more potent at heating the planet over 20-year cycles than carbon dioxide. China emits more of the gas than any other nation, much of which comes from its extensive use of coal power.” [Politico, 11/7/23 (=)]