Increasingly, countries around the world are recognizing the importance of containing methane emissions, especially in the oil and gas sector. Just last week, the United States government announced US$700 million to chart methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas contributing to at least a quarter of today’s climate warming.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has urged cutting methane emissions at least 30 per cent by 2030 to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. Lowering global oil and gas methane emissions by 45 per cent would achieve as much climate benefit in the next 20 years as closing 1,000 coal plants.
But without concrete data, plugging the sources of emissions would be an extremely difficult task.
This is one of the reasons why the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). It’s designed to help governments reduce emissions, starting in the energy sector.
We spoke with Manfredi Caltagirone, the head of IMEO, about UNEP’s latest initiative, the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), and how it is bringing a new level of accuracy and transparency to the global effort to reduce methane emissions.
“Now we will be sharing this data with those who can act to reduce emissions on the ground.”
What is MARS, and what do you hope to achieve with this initiative?
Manfredi Caltagirone (MC): MARS is the first publicly available global system capable of transparently connecting methane detection to notification processes. It coordinates remote observations from satellites, including those operated by the European, Italian and German space agencies and NASA, with the aim of identifying large emission sources of methane around the world.
What makes MARS unique?
MC: The data collected is linked with a notification process to companies which are operating oil and gas fields and governments where emissions are happening. This will dramatically increase transparency. Now we are sharing this data with those who can act to reduce emissions on the ground. Another novel element of MARS is that the data, starting later this year, will be made available to the public between 45 to 75 days after the detection has occurred.
Why not make the data public immediately?
MC: First of all, we want to make sure the information we share with the public is accurate, and this requires time to analyze the data. Besides, we haven’t designed MARS as a shaming tool. We want the new information provided by MARS to be an opportunity to engage companies and governments in discussions about reducing methane emissions in the energy sector in a constructive and productive way – rather than just pointing fingers at them. Governments and companies know that the information will become public, and this will improve accountability and transparency.
Once you compile this granular data, then what? What do you hope will be the reaction?
MC: We expect different reactions from governments and companies with whom we share our data. Some will be constructive, proactive and keen to solve the problem with us. But we are aware that there are governments and companies that will not even pick up the phone. Some might even say: “Your data is wrong, there must be a mistake.” But they also know that this data will be public and include information on the feedback and cooperation we have or have not received from the countries and companies in question.
In recent years, satellite technology has become such an important tool in detecting and measuring methane emissions. Can you explain how the technology behind MARS works?
MC: We are using a number of satellites that are currently in orbit for different purposes because each one gives us a different set of data. Currently, we are relying on Sentinel 5P, a mapper satellite that the European Space Agency launched a few years ago. This satellite covers the globe daily. Based on this daily data, we are developing maps every three weeks that pinpoint where the highest concentrations, or hot-spots, of methane are. We can also detect very large plumes of methane from individual sources with the same data.
Once you’ve found a hot spot, what happens?
MC: Based on this initial data, we are directing a different class of satellites – called point source imagers – to targets. These satellites have high spatial resolution and possess the ability to zoom in on the source of the methane emission. With more satellites and instruments at our disposal, our ability to use these technologies is increasing and improving dramatically. It is fundamental to understand that the MARS approach is scientifically validated, and all the data collected will be science-based and with peer-reviewed methodologies.
MARS was developed in the framework of the Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway. Can you tell me a bit about the Global Methane Pledge?
MC: The Global Methane Pledge is an important initiative convened by the United States and the European Union, which was announced at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Glasgow in 2021. It gathers today more than 150 countries – representing 70 per cent of the global economy – committed to collectively reducing global methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. UNEP supports these efforts through the International Methane Emissions Observatory, which works on science, data, and industry engagement, as well as through the activities of the UNEP-hosted Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Lastly, one of the outcomes of the 2022 UN Climate Change Summit in Egypt was that 40 countries unveiled plans to reduce methane emissions. Is that encouraging?
MC: These plans are the result of the engagement by our Climate and Clean Air Coalition colleagues and show that there is thinking and planning on methane emissions reduction happening at the highest level, so that is great news. Pledging to cut methane is the first step of a longer journey. Yet, there are actions that can be taken now to curb methane emissions, especially in the oil and gas sector. Further, we need more accurate data and systems to track the variations in emissions over time to understand what is working and what is not. This way, we can replicate the most effective actions in other parts of the world and refrain from doing what is not working. We need to have a continuously improving approach to methane action based on evidence that must be empirically verified.
UNEP is at the forefront of methane emissions reduction in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C. UNEP’s work revolves around two pillars: data and policy. UNEP supports companies and governments across the globe to use its unique global database of empirically verified methane emissions to target strategic mitigation actions and support science-based policy options through the International Methane Emissions Observatory. UNEP also fosters high-level commitments through advocacy work and supports countries to implement measures that reduce methane emissions through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Both initiatives are core implementers of the Global Methane Pledge.
