Keynote: MethaneSAT: mapping global oil and gas methane emissions to accelerate mitigation

"Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, responsible for more than 25% of today's global warming. Reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways currently available to slow the rate of climate change. Several countries (e.g., Mexico, Canada, Climate and Clean Air Coalition [CCAC] ministers) and operators (e.g., members of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative [OGCI]) have announced pledges to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas supply chain. For these goals and targets to be effective, it is critical to track current methane emission patterns, identify emission hotspots, and to monitor progress as mitigation strategies are implemented.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has announced plans to launch MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to quantify methane emissions from the global oil and gas system, by targeting 50 major oil and gas regions accounting for more than 80 percent of global production. MethaneSAT will fill current and anticipated data gaps with respect to our ability to monitor methane emissions from space. All data from MethaneSAT will be publicly available, allowing all stakeholders- such as operators and policymakers- to identify mitigation opportunities and track progress."