The liquefied natural gas industry could slash greenhouse gas emissions 60 percent across its supply chain using readily available technologies, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency.
IEA said in the report Friday that the global LNG industry emits about 350 metric million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent every year — more than Italy’s annual emissions. The number could be cut by more than half if the industry invests about $100 billion in deploying technologies that are already available, the agency said.
The largest emissions cuts could be realized by addressing methane — a greenhouse gas that is about 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
“Tackling methane emissions is the most important and cost-effective contributor to overall emissions reductions from supply of LNG,” the report’s authors wrote.