It is about enormous emissions. Individually, the 3,700 “super emissions” identified now correspond to at least 6 percent of Sweden’s total carbon dioxide emissions.
The emissions come mainly from the oil and gas industry, but also from the coal industry and leaking landfills.
The data comes from the world’s most powerful monitoring and warning system of climate-damaging methane gas; MARS, which is now in full swing at the UN methane observatory IMEO.
It started as support for the 150 countries that have pledged to reduce their methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 (see fact box).
MARS uses satellites that monitor the Earth and atmosphere, and uses AI technology to process data faster. Just fifteen days after a giant gas plume with greatly elevated levels of methane is identified, IMEO can alert connected governments and companies about the leak.
Only 15 alarms have led to known measures
Of the 3,700 super leaks discovered so far this year, 1,200 have been reported to responsible governments and companies – actors who have thus already pledged to drastically reduce their methane emissions. But in only 15 of the cases have the actors announced that they acted on the alarm.
– It is not good that only 1 percent has led to any concrete action. And that is ominous for all the promises around methane, says Johan Mellqvist.
Methane gas can be sold on the market, so there is a lot of money to be made – especially in plugging big super leaks. It may involve relatively simple measures such as maintaining, sealing or improving the equipment.
Chalmers at the forefront
Chalmers University of Technology is at the forefront of research into monitoring and measuring emissions, including methane. They have also developed standards that have been measuring industrial emissions in Sweden and also within the EU for 20 years.
Now they are participating in a project at the oil fields in the San Joaquin Valley in California to further develop measurement methods closer to the ground, with, for example, drones.
– A large percentage of these emissions are unfortunately much more diffuse than the super emissions, but we also try to work with that. And the first step is, of course, to measure, says Johan Mellqvist.