U.S. Oil and Gas Methane Emissions 60 Percent Higher Than EPA Reports, Study Says

摘要

The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 13 million metric tons of methane from its operations each year - nearly 60 percent more than currently estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a study published in the journal Science. The higher overall methane leak rate underscores a growing business and environmental challenge for natural gas in an increasingly competitive, lower-carbon economy. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with more than 80 times the climate-warming impact of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timespan. It is also the main ingredient in natural gas.