Oman pledges to reduce methane emissions 30% by 2030

Oman and ten other countries joined the United States of America and the European Union as inaugural members of the Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway.

The launch of the pathway took place in Washington DC, USA, on June 17, with a pledge to catalyse methane emissions reductions in the oil and gas sector, advancing both climate progress and energy security.

To limit warming to 1.5°C and avoid near-term tipping points, the world must rapidly reduce methane emissions in addition to decarbonising the global energy sector, said the governments of USA and the EU in a joint statement.

'This is why the United States, the European Union and more than 100 countries launched the Global Methane Pledge at COP26 to reduce anthropogenic methane emissions at least 30 per cent by 2030 from 2020 levels. With the recent addition of Egypt, Kosovo, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uzbekistan, 120 countries have now endorsed the pledge, representing half of global methane emissions and nearly three-quarters of the global economy,' it said.

The US State Department for Near Eastern Affairs was appreciative of Oman's role in tackling climate change. 'Oman's endorsement of the Global Methane Pledge and GMP Energy Pathway is a great step. Reducing methane emissions, particularly in the oil/gas sector, is critical to keep global warming to 1.5°C and avoid worst impacts of climate change. Grateful to Omani Ambassador (H E) Moosa Hamdan al Tai for his efforts,' the US State Department stated.

Oman's embassy in Washington also thanked the State Department for its partnership. 'Working together in the field of environment, climate and renewable energy, within the pillars of Oman Vision 2040,' it stated.

Tackling methane emissions in the oil and gas sector is critical to achieving the Global Methane Pledge target and bolstering global energy security by preventing the needless waste of valuable gas resources.

The oil and gas sector contributes roughly one-quarter of all anthropogenic methane emissions due to flaring, venting and leaking of methane, which is the principal component of natural gas. Globally, more than 250bcm of natural gas was flared, vented, or leaked in 2021 - exceeding the annual output of the world's third-largest gas producer.

'Reducing flaring and methane emissions in the oil and gas sector is immediately cost-effective and has the triple benefit of acting on climate change, improving health outcomes, and enhancing global gas supply at existing levels of production - simply by capturing gas that would otherwise be wasted due to flaring or methane emissions,' the joint statement said.

Besides Oman, the other cou-ntries joining the pathway are Argentina, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria and Norway.