Global Climate Action Quickens as 21 Countries Pledge to Address Oil and Gas Methane

(November 15, 2016) Twenty one nations that are part of the UN-sponsored Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) recognized methane reductions as “the next big climate opportunity” and agreed to implement policies to minimize emissions of this powerful pollutant from their oil and gas sectors. The ministers representing Australia, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States made the announcement at the CCAC 8th High Level Assembly in conjunction with the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakesh.

Statement from Environmental Defense Fund Vice President Mark Brownstein

“Eliminating flaring, venting, equipment malfunctions, and leaks of natural gas makes common sense. With today’s announcement, leading nations are declaring that good energy policy can be good environmental policy.

“Methane pollution is driving about 25 percent of the warming our planet is experiencing today, and reducing oil and gas methane emissions is the fastest, cheapest, most impactful way to address this. It will take a combination of government policy and industry action to fully realize this opportunity.”

·         Mark Brownstein, Vice President, Climate and Energy, Environmental Defense Fund