Study reveals oil and gas industry significantly underestimating emissions of potent greenhouse gas.

Methane pollution from the US oil and gas industry was 70% higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s own estimates between 2010 and 2019, according to a new study. The study suggests the federal government’s current system for detecting methane leaks from fossil fuel pipes, wells and compressors is inadequate. Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the first two decades it’s in the atmosphere. Scientists are looking at the gas as a target to cut climate emissions quickly because it has such a powerful warming effect. The EPA needs to leverage new technology to get a fuller picture of how much of this potent greenhouse gas is escaping into the atmosphere and hold companies accountable for the leaks.