Industry decarbonization talks mark progress: EDF

Growing decarbonization discussions in the oil and gas industry is a sign that momentum is building toward reducing emissions, according to Mark Brownstein, senior vice president of energy transition for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Brownstein, speaking on the sidelines of the Gastech conference in Houston, Texas, noted a "robust conversation" was happening to address CO2 and methane emissions from natural gas use, which was "something you would not have seen five years ago."

"Now, what would really make me happy, is to come back here next year, and see that it's not just talk," he said. "That there's real investment, that there's real action and that we're actually beginning to see emissions of methane and other pollutants going down."

Brownstein noted that more than 70 companies in the oil and gas industry have committed to the COP 28 decarbonization charter to get to near-zero methane emissions by 2030.

"That is a commitment that needs to be expanded to all players," he said. "A commitment that needs to be expanded by investment and real action. I believe the industry can do it. But of course you need to see it."

Earlier this year the EDF helped launch MethaneSAT, a satellite that will allow for real-time monitoring of global methane emissions, aimed at bringing transparency to global emissions data.

By David Haydon