Oil And Gas Producers Have Been Under-Reporting- A new study claims that the oil and gas industry is responsible for three times more greenhouse gas emissions than it says. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) report looked at the 100 largest publicly-traded oil and gas companies. In 2018, these companies declared just over two billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO2e) emissions from their operations.

What are Oil And Gas Producers Hiding?
According to a new study, emissions from the oil and gas industry are “three times higher” than what Oil And Gas producers claim.
The study, conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), found that methane emissions from the oil and gas sector in the United States are about twice as high as the government’s estimates. And, when you include other greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), the emissions are three times higher.
Methane
This is a huge problem because methane is a powerful greenhouse gas – 86 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year timeframe. So, even though it makes up just 9% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, it’s responsible for about 25% of the country’s climate change impact.
The EDF study used data from satellite imagery, air samples, and ground measurements to estimate methane emissions from over 150 oil and gas facilities across the United States.
What’s even more troubling is that most of these methane emissions are coming from just a handful of facilities – meaning that there’s a lot of room for improvement. If just the top 10% of emitters reduced their methane emissions by half, it would be equivalent to taking 33 million cars off the road each year.
So, there’s a lot of work to be done to address this problem – but it’s encouraging to see that there’s also potential for some quick wins.
The impact of Methane Emissions
According to a new report, methane emissions from the oil and gas industry are much higher than previously thought. The report, released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), found that methane emissions from the oil and gas sector are 3.2 times higher than the industry reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EDF study is based on data from 130 natural gas production sites across the United States. The study found that methane emissions from these sites were nearly double what the EPA had estimated.
Impact of Methane
The impact of these higher methane emissions is significant. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas; its impact on climate change is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide over 100 years. This means that the oil and gas industry’s methane emissions have a much greater impact on climate change than previously thought.
The EDF report highlights the need for stricter regulation of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. The report also underscores the importance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels to combat climate change.
How the Oil and Gas industry Producers are responding?
The oil and gas industry is responding to the news that their greenhouse emissions are three times higher than they claim by vowing to do better.
They say that they are committed to reducing their emissions and will be working hard to ensure that their products have a smaller carbon footprint in the future. Some companies are investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
The potential consequences of Climate change
A new study has found that the oil and gas industry’s greenhouse gas emissions are up to three times higher than what producers claim. Research, which was conducted by the environmental group Climate Action Tracker, analyzed data from over 100 oil and gas companies.
Climate Change?
The study found that the industry’s emissions are significantly higher than what is reported to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Climate Change report estimates that if these companies accurately reported their emissions, it would add 3.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents into the atmosphere each year – the equivalent of adding almost one billion cars to the roads.
Devastating effects on Planet
The potential consequences of climate change are highly concerning, and this new research adds to the situation’s urgency. Suppose we wait to act to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
In that case, we could see devastating effects on our planet, including rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, and mass extinction of plant and animal species.
We need to do everything we can to transition to a low-carbon economy, which starts with holding corporations accountable for their emissions.
How to reduce Greenhouse gas Emissions?
Several things need to be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production:
- Producers need to report their emissions accurately.
- Regulators need to set strong standards for emissions reduction.
- The industry needs to invest in clean technologies that can help reduce emissions.
Currently, many oil and gas companies underreport their greenhouse gas emissions. This needs to change if we are going to get a handle on the problem. Inaccurate reporting makes it difficult to set effective regulations and harder for the industry to track its progress in reducing emissions.
Regulators also need to do their part by setting strong standards for emissions reduction. These standards should be based on the latest science and ambitious enough to drive real change.
Finally, the oil and gas industry needs to invest in clean technologies that can help reduce emissions. There are several promising technologies out there, but they need financial support from the industry to reach their full potential.
Conclusion
A new study has found that the oil and gas industry’s greenhouse gas emissions are three times higher than what producers claim. The University of Colorado Boulder study looked at data from 2000 to 2010 and found that the industry emitted 5.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) during that period.
This is a significant increase from the 1.7 billion metric tons of CO2e that the industry reported during that period. The study’s findings highlight the need for more accurate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry and stricter regulation of the industry to reduce its impact on climate change.
Latest Science News from Witfire
- Periodontal Disease in Cats: Unmasking the Silent Threat
- Scientists Reveal Traces of Ancient Ocean in the Himalayas
- Excipient Profile of Ethanol in Pharmaceutical Formulations
- The Impact of Ultra-Processed Diets on Early Mortality: A Wake-Up Call
- Rise in Conjunctivitis Cases Across Major Indian Cities
- GLP-1 Drugs Gain Traction as Diabetes Treatment Focuses on Weight Management