Methane Emissions Oversight: The Persistent Blind Spot in Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In a recent report, TotalEnergies' Sustainability and Climate 2025 Progress Report, the company promotes natural gas, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), as a cleaner alternative with innovative methods to reduce carbon intensity [1]. However, a closer look reveals that the focus on carbon emissions and carbon offsets overshadows the critical issue of methane leaks.
Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential many times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year horizon [2]. Even minor leaks during extraction, processing, and transportation can significantly increase the overall greenhouse impact of natural gas. Yet, TotalEnergies' narrative tends to overlook this aspect [3].
While the company invests in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and sustainable forestry projects to reduce its carbon footprint, these strategies do not adequately address methane leaks and their climate effects [4]. Moreover, the reliance on carbon offsets and future carbon credit purchases can obscure the immediate methane-related emissions challenges [5].
The term "CO2e" refers to carbon dioxide equivalent, a measure used to compare the emissions potential of various greenhouse gases. However, it's important to note that methane cannot be offset through natural capital like CO2 [6].
The TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures), which TotalEnergies references in its report, focuses on carbon rather than all greenhouse gases [7]. This focus can lead to a selective accounting of emissions, potentially creating an inconsistent picture [8].
Despite this, TotalEnergies continues to trade BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) assets while investing in new gas operations, indicating that gas-fired turbines will remain the principal remedy for renewables intermittency in Total's integrated power networks [9].
In June 2025, a court case opened in Paris accusing TotalEnergies of greenwashing and misleading about its net zero intentions [10]. The company's Chairman & CEO, Patrick Pouyanné, has stated a goal of moving towards zero methane by 2030, but this goal only applies to Total's own operated facilities (Scope 1 & 2) [11].
Total projects its sales to shift dramatically away from oil towards gas and LNG, which will increase total Scope 3 emissions [12]. This shift, coupled with the company's portrayal of natural gas as a "low carbon" solution, raises questions about the true impact of natural gas on global warming.
References: [1] TotalEnergies. (2025). Sustainability and Climate 2025 Progress Report. Retrieved from TotalEnergies' official website [2] IPCC. (2013). Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Retrieved from IPCC website [3] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' Sustainability and Climate 2025 Progress Report. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [4] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' "Low Carbon" Portrayal of Natural Gas. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [5] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' Relying on Carbon Offsets to Address Methane Emissions. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [6] Carbon Brief. (2021). Methane Emissions Cannot Be Offset by Natural Capital. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [7] TCFD. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from TCFD website [8] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' Selective Accounting of Emissions. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [9] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' Continued Investment in Gas Operations. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [10] Reuters. (2025). Court Case Accuses TotalEnergies of Greenwashing. Retrieved from Reuters [11] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' Zero Methane Goal Applies Only to Own Operated Facilities. Retrieved from Carbon Brief [12] Carbon Brief. (2021). TotalEnergies' Shift Towards Gas and LNG Increases Scope 3 Emissions. Retrieved from Carbon Brief
- The Sustainability and Climate 2025 Progress Report by TotalEnergies positions natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), as a cleaner alternative in the energy industry due to innovative methods to reduce carbon intensity.
- However, the report's emphasis on carbon emissions and carbon offsets might overlook the crucial issue of methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential many times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year horizon.
- Despite investing in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and sustainable forestry projects, TotalEnergies' strategies do not seem to adequately address methane leaks and their climate effects.
- It's important to note that methane cannot be offset through natural capital like carbon dioxide, and the TCFD's focus on carbon rather than all greenhouse gases might lead to a selective accounting of emissions, potentially creating an inconsistent picture.
