Continuing Progress in Reducing GHG Emissions

Mark Green
Posted March 8, 2023

Key takeaways from EPA’s draft report, “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (1990-2021),” which is a primary indicator on U.S. climate progress – recognizing that numbers in the report have come during a period of significant growth in America’s population, economic activity and energy production:

• All greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions down – From 2005-2021, a time frame that bookends the U.S. shale revolution, gross emissions of all GHGs decreased 15%. From 1990-2021, emissions decreased 2%.
• Carbon dioxide emissions down – From 2005-2021, CO₂ emissions declined 17.7%. The decrease from 1990 is 1.4%.
• Methane emissions down – From 2005-2021, methane emissions decreased 8.1%. The decrease is 16.3% since 1990.
• Power-sector emissions down – All GHG emissions from generating electricity decreased 35.5% from 2005-2021 and 15.7% since 1990.
• Natural gas systems emissions down – Total GHG emissions from natural gas systems declined 12% from 1990 to 2021 – while total dry natural gas production in the U.S. increased 94%. Overall, methane emissions from natural gas systems were 16% lower in 2021 than in 1990.

That’s great news. Many things factor into the numbers. On CO₂, we know that switching to natural gas to fuel electricity generation is a leading reason U.S. emissions have been at some of their lowest levels in a generation.

Significant in reducing methane emissions is the natural gas and oil industry’s increased ability, through innovation and technology, to cut emissions from production, transportation and the processing of oil and gas, which account for nearly 70% of the energy Americans used in 2021.

Industry-led initiatives, such as The Environmental Partnership, have focused on reducing methane emissions through shared knowledge, technology and field experiences. The Partnership’s six separate performance programs zero in on key emissions sources, including a flare management program.

Since its creation in 2017, The Partnership – whose participating companies represent more than 70% of U.S. onshore natural gas and oil production – has provided key leadership for the industry’s continuing commitment to reducing emissions.

For example, The Partnership’s leak detection and repair program conducted more than 345 million component inspections in 2021. It’s encouraging that the leak occurrence rate was 0.05%, or less than one component leaking in 2,000 among sites surveyed.

The Partnership’s flare management program saw a 40% increase in the number of participating companies in 2021 – participants that represent 62% and 40%, respectively, of total U.S. oil and natural gas production. Including these new program participants, there was a 45% reduction in flare intensity in 2021 and a 26% reduction in total flare volumes compared to 2020.

API supports the direct regulation of methane from new and existing sources. EPA is putting the finishing touches on a rule, which we believe must be crafted to accelerate the progress industry has made in reducing emissions without compromising innovation or American energy production. API’s latest comments to EPA on the rule focus on legal soundness, cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility. As proposed, EPA’s rule lacks necessary flexibility to encourage companies to innovate.

Reducing emissions is a work in progress – and it is indeed progressing. API’s Climate Action Framework lays out ways industry and government can work together to continue reducing emissions and build toward a lower carbon future. Frank Macchiarola, API senior vice president of Economics, Policy and Regulatory Affairs:

“API’s member companies are taking action to drive down methane emissions. Our industry is at the forefront of data collection and advancing and utilizing cutting-edge technologies, including remote monitoring with satellites and laser-based aerial surveys, to detect and reduce methane emissions. Thanks to innovation and concerted industry action, methane emissions intensity (of production, gathering and boosting, and processing) declined by nearly 66%, in aggregate, across the major onshore oil and natural gas producing regions of the country from 2011 to 2021. We welcome transparency and accountability that will foster ongoing environmental improvement across the industry, and we are continuing to accelerate progress.”