With participation of UN organizations, International Energy Agency (IEA) published The Imperative of Cutting Methane from Fossil Fuels. The report argues:
- Rapid cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuels through targeted abatement measures – alongside deep cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – are essential to achieve global climate targets.
- More than 75% of methane emissions from oil and gas operations and half of emissions from coal today can be abated with existing technology, often at low cost.
- Achieving net zero emissions requires significant reductions in fossil fuel use. The sharp decline means no new coal mines or coal mine extensions and no new conventional oil and gas projects should be approved for development after 2023.
- Targeted actions are needed to tackle methane emissions from fossil fuel production and consumption are essential to limit the risk of crossing irreversible climate tipping points.
- Immediate, targeted methane abatement can provide roughly C$350 billion in direct economic benefits.
According to IEA, Canada’s per capita emissions of methane are almost three times the global average, more than half from the energy sector. Methane releases in Canada are worse than reported because the energy industry and government regulators have had little interest in publishing accurate measurements.
A peer-reviewed 2021 study suggested that methane emissions in British Columbia may be more than double estimates. A 2017 study published on behalf of the European Geosciences Union found B.C. methane emissions were at least 2.5 times higher than what the province estimated. Researchers found about half of active gas wells were emitting methane-rich plumes.
Government and industrial promoters of fossil fuels do not spend adequate money to reduce methane emissions, or even to measure the discharges accurately. But Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), an American nonprofit environmental advocacy group, is taking action.
MethaneSAT, a satellite mission and wholly-owned subsidiary of Environmental Defense Fund, will measure methane pollution from the oil and gas sector globally, and make that information easily accessible and free for the public.
Fast, Accurate Global Methane Data
It is appalling that during a time of record fossil fuels profits, humanity relies on acts of charity to discover information about a pollutant that is more than 80 times the global warming threat of CO2 over 20-years.
Carbon Brief reported on research showing methane emissions from wetlands have risen faster this century than in even the most pessimistic climate scenarios:
As climate change raises global temperatures and disrupts rainfall patterns, wetlands are releasing methane into the atmosphere more rapidly – a phenomenon known as the “wetland methane feedback”.
‘Exceptional’ surge in methane emissions from wetlands worries scientists
- Climate change is directly contributing to humanitarian emergencies from heatwaves, wildfires, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes and they are increasing in scale, frequency and intensity.
- Research shows that 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone.
The World Health Organization blames climate change for humanitarian emergencies that are increasing in scale, frequency, and intensity. WHO says 3.6 billion people are vulnerable and hundreds of thousands will die each year from undernutrition, heat stress and diseases associated with climate change.
A Yale University study reported:
- Americans who think global warming is happening outnumber those who think it is not happening by a ratio of nearly 5 to 1 (74% versus 15%).
- Those who are “very” or “extremely” sure global warming is happening outnumber those who are “very” or “extremely” sure it is not happening by more than 6 to 1 (53% versus 8%).
- A majority of Americans (61%) understand that global warming is mostly human-caused. By contrast, 28% think it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.
- A majority of Americans (58%) understand that most scientists think global warming is happening. However, only one in five (20%) understand how strong the level of consensus among scientists is (i.e., that more than 90% of climate scientists think human-caused global warming is happening).
In my province, major political parties are outright climate change deniers (BC United and BC Conservatives) or de facto deniers (BC NDP).
Seeking power today, politicians are willing to sacrifice future generations. It is a reprehensible choice.
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Categories: Climate Change
in-sights.ca 
All true Norm and people may agree in BC, AB et al but on a total population basis, Canada really is considered a “nothing burger” contributor-wise when viewed against other countries even with Fort Mac, fracking, LNG etc. We earn bonus points for offloading LNG to Asian countries for consumption such that we are only tagged with the upstream impact of LNG production.
This is the perception that never seems to get addressed when our track record is being discussed; a relatively small population contributor .. no big deal. The smugness is untenable. The black eye only comes to light when viewed on a per capita basis and with any luck we may win the gold.
Setting and showing a path to the world and other countries striving to achieve our unsustainable fossil fuel lifestyle needs climate responsible mentor(s) and unfortunately, it is not going to be any province in Canada or Federally for that matter.
Onwards and downwards.
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Sad to say, you are correct.
What we have in Canada and especially in BC is Climate Change denial, where Global Warming is seen as another way to tax the people.
The Carbon Tax is noting more than a placebo for government to pretend to be doing something, when in fact they are not. You cannot tax Global Warming/Climate Change out of existence.
What needs to be done is not being done as politicians find new ways to spend their Carbon Tax windfall.
As BC/Canada blunders on and on taxing more and doing less, the world blunders on, more worried about 19th century conquests, rather than 21st centruy environmental catastrophe.
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