The oil and gas industry, the primary contributor of methane emissions in the United States, is facing an increasing responsibility to curtail its excessive leakage. This urgent shift towards curbing emissions emerges from the growing awareness and actions towards halting climate change over the past generation. The industry's response to this escalating obligation could have profound implications not just for the environment, but for the sustainability and future trajectory of the sector itself.
1. The oil and gas industry is the main contributor of methane emissions in the United States.
2. There is a growing urgency for the industry to reduce its excessive methane leakage as part of actions to halt climate change.
3. The industry's response to this challenge could have significant implications for both the environment and the future viability of the sector.
4. There has been increased pressure to address methane leakage due to evidence of its severe impact on the climate.
5. Internationally, there is a rising consensus on the need to curb methane emissions, marking it as a key focus of climate action.
In 2018, the oil and gas sector contributed nearly 30% of all methane emissions in the United States.
The oil and gas industry has been grappling with the menace of methane leakage for the past few decades. However, the urgency to address this problem has been amplified by an increasing body of research pointing to the catastrophic impact of methane on the planet's climate. As the leading source of methane in the US, the sector bears a hefty responsibility not just in terms of financial viability, but also to ensure that its operations do not contribute to the worsening climate change situation. Internationally there's been a rising consensus on the environmental imperative of curbing methane emissions, making it an inescapable focus of climate action.