US oil and gas facilities are pumping out four times more planet-warming methane gas than estimated by regulators, according to research underscoring the gulf between reality and compliance with new environmental rules.
Data published by the Environmental Defense Fund on Wednesday estimates leaks, flaring and venting of methane at US onshore oil and gas operations at 7.5mn tonnes per year — enough wasted gas to meet the annual energy needs of more than half of American homes.
Emissions of the invisible gas, which is a large contributor to global warming, are about eight times higher than a voluntary target announced at last year’s UN climate summit by 50 of the biggest oil and gas companies, including BP, Shell and ExxonMobil.
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