Global Methane Alliance

Despite increased international focus on climate change over the past decade, global greenhouse gases have risen to their highest levels ever. Limiting climate warming to 2°C or less will require unprecedented and immediate action. At COP 26, countries are expected to present enhanced NDC commitments in line with a 2°C scenario. Reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector is an important opportunity to dramatically increase the ambition of these commitments.

According to the IPCC, “deep reductions” in non-CO2 emissions like methane are necessary. The oil and gas sector is one of the largest emitters of methane, and presents a key opportunity to achieve rapid climate benefit. Because methane emissions are a wasted resource, reducing emissions can also support economic growth and other development goals. In most cases, controlling methane emissions from the oil and gas sector is technologically feasible, generates income for companies and countries, and contributes to reducing the climate footprint of oil and natural gas in a decarbonizing world.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a Global Warming Potential over 80 times more than that of carbon dioxide (CO2) over its 10- to 12-year lifespan. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of today’s global warming. If the world is to achieve the 1.5°C (or even a 2°C) global temperature target, deep reductions in methane emissions must be achieved by 2030. And because methane’s atmospheric lifespan is relatively short – 10 to 12 years – actions to reduce methane emissions can rapidly bend the curve away from dangerous warming, while also delivering air quality benefits.

Managing methane is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to slow the rate of global warming in the short term as efforts continue to decarbonize the energy system by adopting cleaner forms of energy. The International Energy Agency estimates the industry could reduce its worldwide emissions by 75 percent—and that up to two-thirds of those reductions can be realized at zero net cost. In most cases, controlling methane emissions from the oil and gas sector is technologically feasible, generates income for companies, and contributes to reducing the climate footprint of oil and natural gas as the world transitions to a low carbon energy system.

Since 2014 the UN Environment Programme hosted Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has worked with a variety of partners including Governments, NGOs, and major international oil and gas companies to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.  Together with the European Commission, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), the CCAC is conducting an extensive program of scientific studies to extend the global knowledge of methane emissions.

Companies involved in the CCAC’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) reduce methane leaks from nine key sources in upstream oil and gas operations following technical guidance documents that make the economic case for methane emissions reduction. The OGMP also provides a reporting framework that supports transparency on actions and results.  In support of the Global Methane Alliance’s targets and acknowledging that methane emissions reduction is a critical step in meeting the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the OGMP is revising its reporting framework to turn it into a highly credible gold standard for reporting able to promote companies’ actions and provide stakeholders confidence in those.

The goal of the OGMP 2.0 is therefore to provide industry, civil society and government with more detailed and transparent information about methane emissions levels, sources and reductions opportunities – information that is essential for properly managing methane emissions in a way that will lead to deep reductions in mineral methane emissions over the next decade.

The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) has worked since its birth on methane. In particular, OGCI members have committed to a collective stringent methane target and possess experience and knowledge that can support governments and other companies. The Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) is a multi-stakeholder collaboration that aims to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas value chain. Resources under development include a best practices toolkit and education program, principles for sound and effective methane policy and regulation, and a web-based information portal by the International Energy Agency (IEA). IEA will also provide best-available data and analysis on oil and gas methane emissions, abatement potentials, and technologies to support governments in drafting effective methane policy.

The CCAC, through its solution centre, is prepared to work with interested partners to assist all governments and other actors ready to make strong and ambitious commitments to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Clean Air Task Force (CATF) will similarly provide technical and policy assistance to countries who commit to reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production. Furthermore, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will provide technical assistance and facilitate knowledge transfer on methane emissions measurement, reporting, and reduction, and may consider providing finance for methane reduction investment plans.

Under the framework of the Global Methane Alliance, the UN Environment Programme has organised a series of meetings around the world to encourage ambitious methane reduction targets. These meetings gather representatives from government, industry, and civil society to discuss ambitious methane reduction targets for the oil and gas industry and outline the support available to governments to achieve these targets through the Global Methane Alliance.

Meeting calendar:

• Lima, Peru (June 2019)
• Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (November 2019)
• Bangkok, Thailand (November 2019)

PROGRESS TO DATE

• In November 2019, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire committed to include ambitious methane reduction targets in their NDCs through the Global Methane Alliance launched by the CCAC and UNEP.
• Under the Peer to Peer Regulatory Support component of the Initiative, a series of awareness-raising activities and in-person workshops were conducted by CCAP and CATF with support from the CCAC to promote the adoption of methane mitigation policies in the Nigerian O&G sector. Follow-up workshops are planned in 2020-2021 which also includes integration of methane targets for the sector into Nigeria’s NDC, to be implemented by CATF under the CCAC Action Programme.
• Mexico is in the progress of developing and implementing federal regulations to reduce methane emissions from existing and new sources in the oil and gas sector, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so. In 2019, Mexico carried out four workshops to socialize the new rules with industry. With support from CCAC, CCAP and CATF, capacity building activities through remote and in-person meetings were undertaken to successfully implement the country’s Methane Guidelines.
• In 2020, the CCAC through UNEP is providing support to Colombia to develop a comprehensive regulation framework and a monitoring scheme for fugitive emissions. A national workshop was organised by the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia in February 2020 which was highlighted the work of the CCAC Mineral Methane Initiative.