Methane Madness: Energy Sector's Methane Emissions on the Rise, Near Historic Highs in 2024
Energy Sector Methane Emissions Near Record High in 2024 (According to Energy Agency) - Energy Sector Methane Emissions Approach All-Time High in 2024 (Based on Report by Energy Agency)
Here's the thing - the energy sector is the major culprit behind methane emissions caused by human activities, accounting for roughly a third of it. And you won't believe where this greenhouse gas comes from - leaks from gas pipelines, oil and gas facilities, and deliberate releases during facility maintenance. The kicker? The record was set back in 2019. But guess what? Reducing those emissions is a no-brainer when it comes to climate protection - it often just requires fixing a leak, seriously.
Except, the IEA, the international energy agency, ain't so optimistic. Their data, courtesy of actual measurements (unlike governments' estimates), suggests that efforts to curb methane emissions are moving at a snail's pace, falling way short of the mark. IEA's big chief, Fatih Birol, ain't mincing words - implementation of methane measures is lagging behind targets.
Now, let's talk numbers. The IEA estimates that actual emissions are around 80 percent higher than the total methane emissions reported by states to the United Nations. And it's not all bad news - global methane emissions are now being monitored more accurately from space. But guess what they're finding? In 2024, "super-emitting methane events" - those massive leaks - hit a record high at oil and gas facilities worldwide, particularly in the USA, Turkmenistan, and Russia. Yep, you read that right - even in space, we can't escape our WTF emissions.
But hey, maybe you're thinking, "hey, it ain't all doom and gloom, right?" Well, methane emissions are actually one of the best ways to quick-fix climate change. Why, you ask? Because reducing methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector would significantly slow down global warming and prevent a temperature increase of about 0.1 degrees Celsius by 2050. That's comparable to eliminating all CO2 emissions from the global heavy industry at once.
But just a heads up, around 40 percent of global methane emissions come from natural sources -er, wetlands, mainly. The rest? Thanks to us, human activities like livestock farming and energy consumption.
- Energy Agency
- IEA
- Record Level
- Gas Leaks
- Energy Sector
- Global Warming
- CH4 Emissions
- Fossil Fuel Industry
- Climate Change
- Super-Emitting Events
Enrichment Data:
- Unstoppable Emissions: Despite the improvements in monitoring and detection technologies, methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry have remained high, with over 120 million tonnes of methane released in 2024, significantly exceeding official reports3.
- Abandoned Sites: Emissions from abandoned fossil fuel facilities, such as disused wells and mines, contribute significantly to overall methane emissions, releasing around 8 million tonnes of methane in 20245.
- Lack of Action: Despite the availability of cost-effective technologies to reduce methane emissions, their implementation remains insufficient. The IEA estimates that nearly 70% of annual methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided using existing technologies5.
- Air Quality Impact: Methane emissions also contribute to poor air quality, negatively impacting human health2.
- Missed Opportunities: The failure to capture and utilize methane emissions results in significant economic losses. The IEA estimates that capturing these emissions could bring an extra 100 billion cubic meters of gas to market annually, equivalent to Norway's annual natural gas exports1.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) has expressed concerns about the slow pace of efforts to curb methane emissions, as their data suggests that the emissions are significantly higher than the reported figures by states to the United Nations.
- In 2024, the energy sector, which is the major contributor to methane emissions, experienced a record high of "super-emitting methane events" mainly at oil and gas facilities in the USA, Turkmenistan, and Russia.
- According to the IEA, the energy sector's methane emissions, though often from simple gas leaks, are a significant contributor to global warming and climate change.
- Reducing methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector could slow down global warming and prevent a temperature increase of about 0.1 degrees Celsius by 2050, an equivalent effect to eliminating all CO2 emissions from the global heavy industry at once.
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