A flare burns natural gas at an oil well. AP
A flare burns natural gas at an oil well. AP
A flare burns natural gas at an oil well. AP
A flare burns natural gas at an oil well. AP

Methane emissions could decline on tighter rules and Cop28 pledges, IEA says


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Methane emissions from the energy sector stayed close to record levels in 2023, but recent regulations and fresh pledges at the Cop28 climate summit could change the trend, the International Energy Agency said.

The production and use of fossil fuels resulted in about 120 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2023, a small rise compared with 2022, it said in its Global Methane Tracker report on Wednesday.

Another 10 million tonnes of methane emissions came from bioenergy, mostly from the use of biomass for activities such as cooking, the agency said.

“A 75 per cent cut in methane emissions from fossil fuels by 2030 is imperative to stop the planet from warming to a dangerous level,” said Fatih Birol, the agency’s executive director.

“I am encouraged by the momentum we’ve seen in recent months, which our analysis shows could make an enormous and immediate difference in the world’s fight against climate change,” Mr Birol said.

Methane emissions from oil and gas production from selected producers.
Methane emissions from oil and gas production from selected producers.

Methane, a greenhouse gas, has a short-term warming potential more than 80 times greater than carbon dioxide.

After CO2 emissions, methane is the second largest contributor, caused by humans, to climate change.

Climate experts consider reducing the international output of methane emissions as the most effective and least disruptive way to slow the increase in global temperatures over the next few decades.

The agency said the top 10 emitting countries were responsible for about 80 million tonnes of methane emissions from fossil fuels last year, representing two thirds of the global total.

The US – the top oil and gas producer – was the largest emitter from oil and gas operations, closely followed by Russia. China was the highest emitter in the coal sector.

Satellites identified a “substantial” increase in fossil fuel leaks last year compared with 2022, with more than 5 million tonnes of emissions detected, including from a well blowout in Kazakhstan that went on for more than 200 days, the agency said.

Governments and independent climate-tracking bodies have been relying on satellites to detect methane releases.

In the next few years, several newly developed satellites with significantly improved resolutions are scheduled to be launched.

MethaneSat, a satellite backed by Alphabet's Google and the Environmental Defence Fund group, was launched this month to pinpoint oil and gas industry methane leaks from space.

“Well-known policies and existing technologies could reduce methane emissions from fossil fuels substantially,” Mr Birol said.

“We will continue to monitor progress – a key part of our wider efforts to ensure countries deliver on the energy promises they made at Cop28,” he added.

At the UN climate summit in Dubai last year, about 200 governments agreed to “substantially” reduce methane emissions by 2030. Significant regulatory initiatives were announced by Canada, the EU and the US.

Fifty oil and gas companies, representing more than 40 per cent of global oil production, signed the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter, which calls for net-zero emissions by 2050 or before.

They are also aiming for “near-zero” upstream methane emissions and zero routine flaring by the end of the decade.

If all methane pledges are implemented in full and on time, it would be sufficient to half methane emissions by 2030, the agency said. It added that most pledges were not yet backed up by plans to introduce.

Reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel operations can be highly cost-effective, the agency said.

About 40 per cent of these emissions last year could have been prevented at no extra cost, as the captured methane's value exceeded the cost of reducing emissions.

The agency said to achieve a 75 per cent reduction by the decade's end, an estimated $170 billion investment would be needed, which is less than 5 per cent of the fossil fuel industry's 2023 income.

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Match info

Uefa Champions League Group B

Barcelona v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight

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FIGHT CARD

Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)

Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)

Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali

Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km

No Shame

Lily Allen

(Parlophone)

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

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Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')

Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Profile of VoucherSkout

Date of launch: November 2016

Founder: David Tobias

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers

Sector: Technology

Size: 18 employees

Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake

Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars” 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Brief scores:

Toss: Rajputs, elected to field first

Sindhis 94-6 (10 ov)

Watson 42; Munaf 3-20

Rajputs 96-0 (4 ov)

Shahzad 74 not out

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:

Juventus 1 Ajax 2

Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate

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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.

"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.

"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."

Profile of Foodics

Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani

Based: Riyadh

Sector: Software

Employees: 150

Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing

Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.

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Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Aahid Al Khalediah II, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Whistle, Harry Bentley, Abdallah Al Hammadi

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup - Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alsaied, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mumayaza, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7.30pm: President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

8pm: President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Medahim, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet

Price, base: Dh429,090

Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission Seven-speed automatic

Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km

Updated: March 13, 2024, 11:23 AM