Satellite to ‘name and shame’ worst oil and gas methane polluters

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A satellite named MethaneSat, designed to identify and publicly expose the most significant methane emitters in the oil and gas industry, is set to launch from California
• This satellite aims to provide a detailed, almost global perspective on methane leaks, which are a major contributor to climate change, with all data being made publicly available

🔭 The context: Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, accounts for 30% of global warming
• The Environmental Defense Fund, in partnership with the New Zealand Space Agency, developed MethaneSat at a cost of $88 million
• This initiative comes as over 150 countries have pledged to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, highlighting a global commitment to address this issue

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Methane leaks from the oil and gas sector are a significant source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions
• Addressing these leaks is deemed the quickest way to mitigate global temperature rises, underlining the critical role MethaneSat plays in global environmental conservation and climate change mitigation efforts

⏭️ What's next: With the deployment of MethaneSat, there is an expectation for enhanced accountability and reduction efforts within the oil and gas industry
• This satellite's high-resolution data will also support regulatory efforts in the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea, aiming to significantly reduce methane emissions

💬 One quote: "MethaneSat is a tool for accountability... But [it] can [also] help document progress that leading companies are making in reducing their emissions," (Mark Brownstein, EDF’s senior vice-president)

📈 One stat: Methane emissions from planes were found to be 60% higher than the estimates published by US authorities and elsewhere, emphasizing the underreported magnitude of this issue

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