Oil and Gas Industry Knew Since 1979 Methane Emissions Were Far Higher
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Oil and Gas Industry Knew Since 1979 Methane Emissions Were Far Higher
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Summary
A new Center for Climate Integrity report says oil and gas companies knew for decades that wells were releasing far more heat-trapping methane than they publicly acknowledged.
A 1979 study commissioned by the American Gas Association's research arm is cited as evidence, saying major U.S. gas fields could be emitting much more planet-warming gas than official figures showed.
The report argues the industry still downplayed methane risks in public while promoting natural gas as a clean fuel, even as electric stoves and heaters threatened demand.
Methane is the main component of natural gas and a particularly potent greenhouse gas, making the findings significant for climate accountability efforts pushed by the nonprofit group.
Did the gas industry copy big tobacco's playbook to hide methane's climate dangers?
Can satellite technology finally reveal the true scale of the industry's methane pollution?
With new EU rules on methane, are U.S. natural gas exports at risk of being rejected?
Methane Accountability Crisis: Persistent Emissions, Industry Influence, and the Urgent Need for Verified Reductions (2024-2026)
Overview
Despite growing awareness and available solutions, methane emissions from the oil and gas sector remain a major climate threat, as highlighted by the 2026 IEA Methane Tracker report. This report underscores a persistent gap between industry commitments and real-world reductions. The European Union’s new Methane Regulation aims to boost transparency and reduce wasted gas, potentially transforming the global energy market by turning avoidable gas losses into energy security solutions. However, the slow industry response and underwhelming action reveal that the main barriers are not technology or cost, but a lack of political will and effective implementation.