Oil Firms at UN Climate Discussions Commit to Fighting Methane, Skeptics Dub Effort as “Smokescreen”

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During the current United Nations climate discussions, Sultan al-Jaber, this year’s summit president and leader of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., announced a significant commitment from fifty major oil companies. These firms, accounting for almost half of the world’s oil production, have vowed to achieve near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring by 2030. However, this declaration has been met with skepticism by environmental groups, labeling it a “smokescreen.”

Al-Jaber, who is also overseeing the climate summit, known as COP28, believes his experience positions him uniquely to engage oil companies in meaningful dialogue. He asserts that industry collaboration is essential for cutting global greenhouse emissions by nearly 50% within the next seven years, a target set to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Among the signatories are leading national and multinational oil companies, including Saudi Aramco, Petrobras, Sonangol, Shell, TotalEnergies, and BP. Al-Jaber, addressing an energy session, emphasized the critical need to transform current energy practices and rapidly transition to zero-carbon alternatives to prevent environmental breakdown.

Acknowledging potential criticisms, al-Jaber conceded that these measures are not sufficient but expressed his conviction for more ambitious actions. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is released at various stages of oil and gas operations, including fracking, production, transportation, and storage. It is known to be significantly more impactful than carbon dioxide over shorter time frames.

In the lead-up to COP28, there was anticipation of action on methane, given its environmental impact and the feasibility of addressing it with existing technologies and operational changes. Despite this, oil and gas companies have traditionally prioritized production expansion over addressing methane emissions.

Environmental groups have criticized the methane agreement as maintaining the status quo while superficially addressing climate change concerns. Over 300 civil society groups have signed a letter condemning the pledge as a mere diversion from the necessary phasing out of fossil fuels.

Marcelo Mena, CEO of Global Methane Hub, refuted the idea that commitments to near-zero methane emissions are a tactic to delay the fossil fuel phase-out. He advocated for more stringent measures, such as pricing pollution or market exclusion for non-compliant companies, to drive significant industry changes.

Recent regulatory advancements include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule targeting emissions from existing oil and gas wells and the European Union’s agreement to reduce methane emissions in its energy sector. These developments reflect a growing global emphasis on stringent environmental standards.

The recent announcement, however, does not address Scope 3 emissions, which relate to end-user consumption. Al-Jaber acknowledged the need for further research into solutions for these emissions. The Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, supported by both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, signifies a commitment from some of the world’s largest oil producers.

In a separate development, 110 countries have agreed to a pledge, initially proposed by the Group of 20, to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, a crucial step towards reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Note: This coverage is part of Big Big News’ climate and environmental reporting, supported by various private foundations. The content is independently produced by the AP. More information on AP’s climate initiative can be found [here]. The AP maintains full editorial responsibility for all content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UN Climate Talks Methane Pledge

More about UN Climate Talks Methane Pledge

• United Nations Climate Change
• Methane Emissions and Climate Change
• COP28 Summit Overview
• Global Oil Companies and Environmental Policies
• Sultan al-Jaber and COP28
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction
• U.S. EPA Methane Regulations
• EU Methane Emission Agreement
• Environmental Groups on Fossil Fuels
• Global Renewable Energy Initiatives