Progress on data and lingering uncertainties – Global Methane Tracker 2024 – Analysis – IEA

Source: Progress on data and lingering uncertainties – Global Methane Tracker 2024 – Analysis – IEA

Robust and verified methane data is important for setting reduction targets, establishing baselines, and tracking progress over time. There has been a large increase in the availability and reporting of methane emissions data in recent years, but estimates are still subject to a high degree of uncertainty.

Some of the largest differences are between data based on measurement campaigns and scientific studies, and those reported to official public bodies and by companies.

The most recent comprehensive assessment of all sources of methane emissions – provided in the Global Methane Budget – suggests that methane emissions from oil and gas operations are around 84 Mt, broadly similar to our estimate. In contrast, the sum of country-level figures submitted by national governments to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is around half of this amount…

Estimates implied by company-level reporting are even lower. For example, company reports to the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0)  – which covers around one-third of global oil and gas supply – suggest that an average of 0.6 kg of methane is emitted across the oil and gas supply chain per tonne of oil equivalent of oil and gas production. If these companies were to fully represent the industry globally, then global oil and gas methane emissions would be around 5 Mt, about 95% lower than our estimate and that reported in the Global Methane Budget. A similar result is found with companies reporting to the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers.