Appea says Australia's methane pledge is a positive step for net zero

The Australian government’s decision to sign the Global Methane Pledge is an important step in the emissions reduction pathway to net zero, Australia’s peak oil and gas body Appea said on October 23.

“As an industry committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050, we have worked with the government towards today’s announcement, paving the way towards a cleaner energy future,” Appea CEO Samantha McCulloch said.

“With Australia’s focus on emissions reduction, signing the pledge is a positive and important step for our country and the world,” she added.

McCulloch said that a number of Appea members have already committed directly to the pledge or have emissions reduction targets consistent with, or going beyond, the pledge.

“In addition, members participate in global initiatives such as signing on to the Methane Guiding Principles and methane emissions reduction investments through the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI),” she said.

Citing a 2021 study, The Australian Natural Gas Industry: Monitoring, reporting, and reducing methane emissions, Appea said that methane emissions from Australia’s oil and gas industry are very low compared to other sectors in Australia and to oil and gas industries in other countries.

McCulloch said: “While the largest sources of methane emissions in Australia are agriculture, coal, land use, and waste, our industry continues to take action to measure, monitor and reduce its methane emissions.”