Fossil Fuel Industry Emitting 70% More Methane Than Official Numbers Show

The fossil fuel industry has a big methane problem, and we’re only just beginning to realize how serious it is. The IEA released a new analysis finding that methane emissions from energy production are being severely undercounted and are up to 70% higher than official estimates provided by countries around the world. While methane stays in the atmosphere for a much shorter time than carbon dioxide, it packs a real punch while it’s up there - about 80X more potent over a 20-year period. Reducing methane emissions as soon as possible is key to warding off the worst impacts of climate change. The oil and gas industry is responsible for a big chunk of methane emissions, from processes during production including venting and flaring—releasing excess gas into the atmosphere—as well as leaks (that can be substantial) along the supply chain.- Gizmodo