Lemmy.zip

2,759 readers
229 users here now

Welcome to Lemmy.zip - a community for like minded people to come and have a chat about almost anything. From games to tech, to anything else, come and have a chat.

If you're new and would like to join Lemmy.zip, please fill in the sign up form. Email verification is required. (Please check your spam folder!)

Once you're signed up, come and introduce yourself in our Home community!

Useful Links

m.lemmy.zip - Our Mobile/Tablet site
old.lemmy.zip - A familiar desktop experience!
a.lemmy.zip - A desktop-first UI
t.lemmy.zip - An alternative Mobile/Tablet UI with lots of features!
Join our Matrix Chat!

Instance Rules

To maintain the high standard of discourse and interaction we all value, each user must adhere to the guidelines outlined in our Code of Conduct. This set of rules is designed not just to maintain order but also to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone to share their thoughts and ideas.

What to Expect in Our Code of Conduct:

Respectful Communication: We strive for positive, constructive dialogue and encourage all members to engage with one another in a courteous and understanding manner.
Inclusivity: Embracing diversity is at the core of our community. We welcome members from all walks of life and expect interactions to be conducted without discrimination.
Privacy: Your privacy is paramount. Please respect the privacy of others just as you expect yours to be treated. Personal information should never be shared without consent.
Integrity: We believe in the integrity of speech and action. As such, honesty is expected, and deceptive practices are strictly prohibited.
Collaboration: Whether you're here to learn, teach, or simply engage in discussion, collaboration is key. Support your fellow members and contribute positively to shared learning and growth.

If you enjoy reading legal stuff, you can check out legal.lemmy.zip.

Funding

If you would like to contribute to the upkeep of Lemmy.zip, please head over to OpenCollective.
Anything you're happy to donate is very highly appreciated!
You'll even get your name in the Thank You thread.

If you want to use PayPal, you can donate via Ko-Fi:

Server

founded 1 year ago

ADMINS

Demigodrick

Sami

ZippyBot

137

US energy industry methane emissions are triple what government thinks, study finds (phys.org)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

5 comments fedilink

163

US energy industry methane emissions are triple what government thinks, study finds (phys.org)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

1 comments fedilink

American oil and natural gas wells, pipelines and compressors are spewing three times the amount of the potent heat-trapping gas methane as the government thinks, causing $9.3 billion in yearly climate damage, a new comprehensive study calculates.

But because more than half of these methane emissions are coming from a tiny number of oil and gas sites, 1% or less, this means the problem is both worse than the government thought but also fairly fixable, said the lead author of a study in Wednesday's journal Nature.

The same issue is happening globally. Large methane emissions events around the world detected by satellites grew 50% in 2023 compared to 2022 with more than 5 million metric tons spotted in major fossil fuel leaks, the International Energy Agency reported Wednesday in their Global Methane Tracker 2024. World methane emissions rose slightly in 2023 to 120 million metric tons, the report said.

"This is really an opportunity to cut emissions quite rapidly with targeted efforts at these highest emitting sites," said lead author Evan Sherwin, an energy and policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Lab who wrote the study while at Stanford University. "If we can get this roughly 1% of sites under control, then we're halfway there because that's about half of the emissions in most cases."

Sherwin said the fugitive emissions come throughout the oil and gas production and delivery system, starting with gas flaring. That's when firms release natural gas to the air or burn it instead of capturing the gas that comes out of energy extraction. There's also substantial leaks throughout the rest of the system, including tanks, compressors and pipelines, he said.