US plans to cut methane emissions from oil and gas sector

The US has unveiled a new plan to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40%-45% from 2012 levels by 2025.

The government has unveiled a range of measures to tackle methane emissions across the oil and gas system in order to achieve its goal.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will work with industry, states and other stakeholders to cut methane emissions from new and modified oil and gas wells.

The US Department of Energy will continue to drive technological advancement via new energy efficiency standards for natural gas and air compressors.

A proposed $25m in funding will be used to develop and demonstrate technologies to identify and reduce natural gas leaks.

The Department of the Interior will update outdated standards to reduce wasteful venting and flaring of natural gas from wells on public lands.

Emissions from the oil and gas sector, which are down 16% since 1990, are expected to increase by more than 25% by 2025 without additional action.

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The government said it will work with companies, individually and via initiatives such as the One Future Initiative and the Downstream Initiative, to develop and verify robust commitments to reduce methane emissions across the oil and gas system.