In a significant stride towards combating climate change, Google, in partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), has announced plans to launch MethaneSAT next month, a satellite designed to detect and measure methane emissions from oil and gas industries across the globe. This pioneering satellite will circle the Earth 15 times daily, focusing its observations on major oil and gas regions to map out and understand the primary sources of methane emissions. By leveraging algorithms powered by Google Cloud, MethaneSAT aims to process this crucial data, with expectations to map methane emissions worldwide by the end of the year.
Methane is a major contributor to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ranks second only to carbon dioxide (CO2) in its contribution to global warming, accounting for about 30% of the warming effect. Despite being less discussed compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), methane’s impact is profound, given its superior heat-trapping capability. The gas is considered 84 times more potent in trapping the heat than CO2 over a two-decade period and it possesses a global warming potential 25 times more than that of CO2. This initiative comes at a time when global methane emissions are surging with an annual increase of 17 parts per billion in atmospheric methane in 2021, marking the largest annual increase since 1983. This surge has brought atmospheric methane concentrations to 162% above pre-industrial levels, prompting concern among scientists.
According to research, agriculture is by far the biggest source of anthropogenic methane, with about 32% of total emissions originating from enteric fermentation and manure management. Another big contributor is the extraction, pumping, and transport of fossil fuels, which altogether contribute around 23% of total emissions. By collecting data on methane leakages and trace emissions back to their source, Google hopes to encourage energy companies, researchers, and the public sector to take action “faster and more effectively.” The satellite will also help identify the sources that contribute the most to methane emissions or that are most susceptible to leaks, the company said.
The news comes just days after a team of researchers unveiled new figures regarding a methane leakage that occurred at the Karaturun East oil field in Kazakhstan in June 2023 during expiration drilling at the well. They said the methane well is estimated to have released about 140,000 tons of gas into the Earth’s atmosphere in 205 days, an amount equivalent to 791,318 gas-powered cars being driven over a year. If confirmed, this would be the worst-ever blowout the world has ever seen.
The global response to methane emissions has been growing, highlighted by the Global Methane Pledge at COP26, where over 100 countries committed to reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Additionally, last year’s climate summit in Dubai saw further commitments, including the U.S. announcement of drastic cuts in methane emissions from the oil and gas industry and the formation of a multi-donor trust fund by the World Bank to assist developing countries in reducing CO2 and methane emissions.
For Africa, the launch of MethaneSAT presents a unique opportunity to enhance its environmental stewardship and climate change resilience. The continent stands to gain from precise methane monitoring. This technology can help African nations identify emission hotspots, implement effective mitigation strategies, and adhere to international environmental commitments. Furthermore, the initiative offers the potential for technological transfer, capacity building, and increased participation in global climate governance, aligning with sustainable development goals and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts.
