New images show where super-polluters are venting an invisible, planet-warming gas

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🗞️ Driving the news: MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to detect methane leaks, has revealed alarming levels of emissions from oil and gas regions worldwide
• Early findings indicate methane emissions from key basins, such as the Permian and South Caspian, are significantly higher than reported—up to 45 times industry-agreed limits in some areas
• Scientists warn the underreported emissions exacerbate the planet's warming trajectory

🔭 The context: Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over 20 years
• Despite its environmental risks, natural gas—composed largely of methane—remains a leading energy source
• Aging infrastructure and weak enforcement in regions like Turkmenistan and Venezuela contribute to severe methane leaks

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Methane pollution accelerates climate change, with hotspots in oil and gas basins emitting staggering amounts
• Reducing methane emissions represents a critical and achievable step in mitigating the climate crisis while transitioning to sustainable energy systems

⏭️ What's next: Satellite technology like MethaneSAT will expand monitoring capabilities, pressing companies and governments to address methane leaks
• Experts urge global methane reduction while advocating for a complete transition away from fossil fuels to achieve lasting climate solutions

💬 One quote: “Cutting methane pollution is the fastest way to curb the pace of the climate crisis” — Rob Jackson, Chair of the Global Carbon Project

📈 One stat: The South Caspian Basin emits 970,000 pounds of methane per hour, 1.5 times the Permian Basin’s already alarming rate

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