Methane Emissions from Oil and Natural Gas Operations—30 Percent Reduction by 2030 Possible if Domestic and International Actions “Stay the Course”

Abstract

When sworn into office in January 2021, the Biden–Harris Administration—through the National Climate Task Force—launched an ambitious, whole-of-government initiative to significantly double efforts and reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector, landfills, agriculture, and other lesser sources. These initiatives were documented in the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, which proposed to use regulations, catalytic financial incentives, transparency and disclosure of actionable data, together with public and private partnerships, to identify and reduce methane emissions. President Biden's Build Back Better agenda was designed to accelerate, through investments, many of these domestic methane emissions reduction efforts.