March 21, 2025 • 3 min read
Why the natural gas sector needs a standardized approach to measuring methane emissions
Methane may be invisible but its impact on climate is not.
With a warming potential 84 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20‑year time horizon (IPCC 2014), methane emissions are both a critical challenge and a major opportunity. Because methane has a short atmospheric lifespan, reducing emissions today can deliver rapid climate benefits.
The energy sector plays a big role. Oil and gas operations account for nearly 40% of human-caused methane emissions (IEA). The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Scientific Advisory Panel estimates that cutting these by 50 percent over the next 30 years could help limit global temperature rise by 0.2°C – a meaningful step toward climate targets.
Methane facts: Did you know?
Statistic Cards
The Challenge: discrepancies in methane measurement and reporting
Sustainability reporting is advancing with mandates for detailed greenhouse gas (GHG) disclosures – including Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. But without standardization for methane measurement and reporting, operators face challenges in meeting regulatory requirements and unlocking commercial advantages like cost savings, tax incentives and stronger investor confidence.
Right now, inconsistencies in methane reporting remain a major issue. According to the IEA, methane emissions from the energy sector are underreported by 70 percent – highlighting the urgent need for standardized methodologies and transparency.
Accurate methane quantification is essential for informed decision making and targeted decarbonization strategies. But today’s landscape is fragmented with multiple frameworks including:
- Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0)
- Methane Guiding Principles
- World Bank guidelines
- Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI)
- National frameworks such as Australia’s National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act, and the U.S.A Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP).
Each framework has its own methodology and requirements, making it hard to draw accurate comparisons across companies, facilities and different parts of the natural gas value chain. Without reliable, consistent data, it’s difficult for companies to develop robust decarbonization plans and demonstrate sustainability leadership.
Establishing a standardized approach to methane measurement
A unified approach to measuring, monitoring, reporting and verifying (MMRV) methane emissions is essential. Standardization should focus on:
- Comprehensive source identification: identifying all methane emission sources within the natural gas value chain to ensure a comprehensive inventory
- Reliable emission quantification: allowing a combination of direct measurement and industry emission factors to balance accuracy, cost, quality and feasibility
- Consistent reporting principles: ensuring emissions data is transparent, comparable, and actionable across the energy sector.
Direct measurement is the gold standard for accuracy, but it can be costly, time intensive and complex to implement at scale. Industry emission factors offer a simpler, lower cost alternative but lack site-specific precision. A hybrid approach – one that prioritizes high quality data while maintaining cost effectiveness – is key.
Taking the guesswork out of methane reporting
Methane emissions are under increasing scrutiny as industries work to reduce their carbon footprint and meet evolving regulatory requirements.
We help our customers cut through complexity with data driven solutions that enhance accuracy, transparency, and compliance in methane monitoring and reporting. Our expertise in emissions modelling and data evaluation helps our customers:
- Identify major methane sources with confidence
- Select and implement fit for purpose measurement technologies
- Develop robust data inventories aligned with national and international reporting frameworks such as NGER and OGMP 2.0
- Design targeted decarbonization strategies with measurable results.
Driving industry wide change
Reducing methane emissions requires accurate measurement – because you can’t abate what you don’t measure. And accurate measurement isn’t possible without standardized measurement frameworks. The industry has the expertise and technologies to develop these frameworks and use them as the foundation for measurable methane reduction.
Then, we’ll apply them in a way that drives real progress.
