Amid mounting concerns about climate change, Carleton University’s Energy and Emissions Research Lab (EERL), led by engineering professor Matthew Johnson, has completed Canada’s inaugural methane census. This pioneering effort aims to bolster Canada’s commitment to reducing methane emissions by 75% in the oil and gas sector by 2030.
The groundbreaking study, funded by international, federal, provincial, industry, and non-governmental sources totaling $2.5 million, employed innovative aerial and on-site research methods to comprehensively document methane emissions from thousands of oil and gas sites across Western Canada. This marks the first time a comprehensive, measurement-based methane emissions inventory has been produced for any country.
Prof. Johnson remarked, “We finally have verified numbers to work with,” emphasizing the criticality of accurate data for achieving emissions reduction goals.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, stands nearly 83 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Johnson’s team discovered discrepancies between reported and actual methane emissions in Canada’s oil and gas sector, highlighting the urgent need for precise measurement-based policies to reduce emissions effectively.
The EERL’s work extends beyond compiling data; it empowers policy makers to make informed decisions and encourages proactive emission reduction efforts among businesses. Johnson observed that companies, upon learning about ongoing methane measurement activities, voluntarily undertook measures to reduce emissions, including equipment upgrades and adopting methane destruction technologies.
While challenges, such as forest fires hindering aerial measurements, persist, Johnson remains optimistic about the potential for immediate and substantial reductions in methane emissions. He highlights the oil and gas sector’s potential for near-zero methane emissions, a critical step toward achieving net-zero goals.
Reflecting on the urgency of mitigating climate change, Johnson stresses the need for swift action, considering methane’s impact on global warming. He champions measurement-based policies and ongoing independent measurements as catalysts for tangible and immediate reductions in methane emissions.
Carleton University’s pioneering work not only sets a benchmark for global methane mitigation efforts but also underscores the significance of accurate data and measurement-based strategies in combatting climate change.
