The International Energy Agency (IEA) launched a new online tool on Tuesday to track global oil and gas-related methane emissions. In addition to showing current emission levels, the tool also sets out the reductions that are possible using existing technology.
The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is currently around two-and-half times greater than pre-industrial levels and increasing steadily, the IEA says. The agency warns that, "This rise has important implications for climate change as methane is a potent greenhouse gas."
Global methane emissions from the oil and gas sectors could be reduced by nearly half at no net cost, according to IEA analysis. "Doing so would have the same long-term climate benefits as immediately eliminating emissions from more than half the cars on the road worldwide,” said Fatih Birol, IEA executive director.
(Anadolu Agency)
