Methane emissions
Methane (CH₄) is the primary component of natural gas. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas; its impact on climate change over 20 years is more than 80 times greater than CO2. While methane is much more efficient in trapping radiation, it is also short-lived.
Reducing emissions of methane is considered one of the most effective near-term actions to keep the more ambitious 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement within reach.
Shell has a target to maintain methane emissions intensity below 0.2% and achieve near-zero methane emissions by 2030.
Reducing methane emissions
Virtually eliminating methane emissions from our operations by 2030 is a priority for Shell. We also believe that transitioning towards standardised and consistent measurement-based quantification is of utmost importance for the industry to increase accuracy and transparency on reported emissions.
Shell has been at the forefront of efforts by the oil and gas sector to drive methane emissions reduction.
Working with others to reduce methane emissions
Shell collaborates with industry, governments and others to inform policies and share best practices with the aim to reduce methane emissions across the full natural gas value chain.
Voluntary initiatives we support include The Methane Guiding Principles (MGP), the UN-led Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 reporting framework, World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) fund and Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter.
