The amount of the powerful climate-changing gas methane spilling out of oil and gas equipment, coal mines and landfills globally is nowhere near fully documented and what is known is “only scratching the surface” according to the CEO of one the companies that tracks methane with its own satellites.
Rather than improving, the methane emissions problem is worsening according to Stephane Germain of GHGSat. “The past year, we've detected more emissions than ever before,” he said.
Since late 2023, GHGSat satellites detected about 20,000 sites worldwide that qualify as super-emitters, or sites hemorrhaging at 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of methane per hour.
That marks a major increase over the year before when the company detected about 15,000 super-emitting sites.
Germain said the numbers were rounded to enable a discussion of emissions since countries made pledges to reduce methane at the 2023 global climate talks known as COP28, in Dubai. He provided a briefing in anticipation of the next round, COP29, which will open soon in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Last year, 50 oil companies representing nearly half of global production signed a pledge to nearly eliminate methane emissions and end the routine burning off of the gas in their operations by 2030. In many countries, methane, or natural gas, is flared — wasted — rather than captured in pipelines and used to make electricity or cook. That's because operators are after the oil, not the gas that lies in the formation with it.
Almost half of the methane emissions detected are coming from the oil and gas industry, Germain said. About one-third came from “waste management emissions,” and mining accounted for 16 per cent.
GHGSat added three satellites during the year but Germain doubted that accounted for the increased detections. More likely, he said “developing countries of the world need energy — and energy, unfortunately today still comes primarily from fossil fuels.”
The largest share of the potent gas is being released from North America and Eurasia, he said. In Canada, landfills make up the largest share of emissions.
Earlier this year, a study reported that American oil and natural gas wells, pipelines and compressors are spewing three times the amount of heat-trapping gas methane as the government thinks.
A study published in September found methane levels in the air are rising, making climate change much worse than it would be with only carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide — which is not as potent as methane but lasts much longer — remains the most significant pollutant humans are adding to the atmosphere.
GHGSat, based in Montreal, is one of a number of for-profit and philanthropy-backed nonprofit methane satellite measurement and analysis efforts that both collaborate and compete to provide an increasingly clear view of the global issue. Others include Carbon Mapper, Kayrros and MethaneSAT.
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Mounties in British Columbia have discovered the 'largest and most sophisticated' drug-production laboratory in Canadian history, federal investigators announced Thursday, describing the facility as a 'super lab' operated by international organized criminals.
The Alberta government has tabled three bills that will change, among other things, how transgender youth and athletes are treated in the province.
A 19-year-old mother has been charged with murder after her baby died in a house fire in Toronto last week, police say.
The Quebec government has suspended applications for permanent residency from two immigration streams because it says it can no longer accommodate the rising number of newcomers.
MLB star Freddie Freeman, a dual Canada-U.S. citizen, has made history as a member of the World Series winning Los Angeles Dodgers.
Half of the world's population will undergo menopause if they live to middle age, but symptoms start occurring several years before that life change.
A woman has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after a six-year-old boy was struck and killed by a school bus in Vaughan back in June, York Regional Police say.
The owners of the Whistle Stop Cafe is suing the Alberta government for imposing mandates on businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employers at British Columbia's ports say they have received 72-hour strike notice from the union representing about 700 foremen in an ongoing labour dispute.
The investigation into allegations a B.C. woman drugged and stole from men who hired her as an escort – leaving one victim dead – was marked by "professional negligence, recklessness, and operational failures," according to a judge.
A 24-year-old woman has died after she was hit by a Halifax Transit bus Thursday morning.
The Alberta government has tabled three bills that will change, among other things, how transgender youth and athletes are treated in the province.
Mounties in British Columbia have discovered the 'largest and most sophisticated' drug-production laboratory in Canadian history, federal investigators announced Thursday, describing the facility as a 'super lab' operated by international organized criminals.
A 19-year-old mother has been charged with murder after her baby died in a house fire in Toronto last week, police say.
Residential school survivors are calling on Canada to criminalize residential school denialism, echoing one of the findings in a report about unmarked graves and burial sites associated with the institutions.
North Korea on Friday bragged of its recently tested new intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it “the world’s strongest,” a claim viewed by outside experts as propaganda though the test showed an advancement in the North's quest to build a more reliable weapons arsenal.
A grand jury in Nevada has again indicted Nathan Chasing Horse on charges that he sexually abused Indigenous women and girls, reviving a sweeping criminal case against the former “Dances with Wolves” actor.
A Florida man is recovering from a shark bite just over a decade after being bitten at the same beach.
More than 400 alleged victims have so far contacted the legal team working on a case against the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, who has been accused of sexual abuse and rape, lawyer Dean Armstrong said on Thursday.
The United States expects some 8,000 North Korean troops that are now on Ukraine’s border to be sent into combat in the coming days, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.
Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings Thursday as people tried to salvage what they could from their ruined homes following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 158 lives, with 155 deaths confirmed in the eastern Valencia region alone.
Canada will need a profound shift in political priorities if the country is to ramp up spending to meet its international security obligations.
Residential school survivors are calling on Canada to criminalize residential school denialism, echoing one of the findings in a report about unmarked graves and burial sites associated with the institutions.
Jagmeet Singh says the NDP will not support the Bloc Québécois and Conservative leaders to help them bring down the Liberal government.
The Alzheimer Society says people with dementia should have the right to request medical assistance in dying in advance — but it must not be a replacement for high-quality palliative care.
Half of the world's population will undergo menopause if they live to middle age, but symptoms start occurring several years before that life change.
A million Canadians have received care under the federal dental-care plan six months after the program began, Health Minister Mark Holland said Thursday.
As Phobos, one of Mars’ two moons, passed in front of the sun, it cast a lumpy, potato-shaped shadow on the sun’s face as well as on the Martian surface.
The oldest known surviving tombstone in the United States is an elaborate display of wealth — an intricately carved slab of black limestone initially laid in the floor of the second church of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent British settlement in North America.
Over four days on the water in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Heather Bowlby and her team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada tagged 15 great white sharks.
Rapper Young Thug pleaded guilty Thursday in Atlanta to gang, drug and gun charges and will be released from jail, though he could be put back behind bars if he violates the terms of his sentence.
Police on Vancouver Island say one suspect has been arrested and another is believed to have fled Canada after shots were fired at a Punjabi musician's Victoria-area home last month.
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Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal started a new strike Thursday morning, forcing the indefinite shutdown of two container terminals at the country's second biggest port.
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A U.S. senator is raising concerns that TD Bank Group executives did not face charges as part of the bank's settlement over its failure to detect large-scale money laundering.
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Auston Matthews has come face to face with his look-alike. On Thursday, the Maple Leafs star met seven-year-old Grayson Joseph, who went viral for dressing up as an Auston Matthews hockey card.
Two cute, fluffy alpacas brought a smile to commuters’ faces Wednesday morning as they rode the GO Train from Scarborough to Union Station in advance of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which kicks off this weekend.
MLB star Freddie Freeman, a dual Canada-U.S. citizen, has made history as a member of the World Series winning Los Angeles Dodgers.
Australian golfer Jeffrey Guan’s dreams came true in September, as he made his PGA Tour debut. A week later, the 20-year-old was left blinded in one eye after being struck in the face by a golf ball.
Scotiabank Arena is pulling back the curtain and offering Toronto sports fans a behind-the-scenes look inside the storied building.
Several Ford vehicles have been recalled in Canada due to issues with braking systems, steering and child car seat tethers.
Volkswagen has informed employee representatives that it wants to close at least three plants in Germany, the head of the company's works council said Monday.
A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.
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Epcor says it has removed more than 20,000 goldfish from an Edmonton stormwater pond.
Witches and warlocks have been flocking to New Brunswick waterways this month, as a new Halloween tradition ripples across the province.
New Brunswicker Jillea Godin’s elaborate cosplay pieces attract thousands to her online accounts, as well as requests from celebrities for their own pieces.
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Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.
The investigation into allegations a B.C. woman drugged and stole from men who hired her as an escort – leaving one victim dead – was marked by "professional negligence, recklessness, and operational failures," according to a judge.
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A 19-year-old mother has been charged with murder after her baby died in a house fire in Toronto last week, police say.
An 11-year-old girl is in critical condition after being struck by a Mi-Way bus outside of a school in Mississauga Thursday afternoon.
Auston Matthews has come face to face with his look-alike. On Thursday, the Maple Leafs star met seven-year-old Grayson Joseph, who went viral for dressing up as an Auston Matthews hockey card.
A man in his 60s was airlifted to hospital in Calgary in life-threatening condition following an e-bike crash near Diamond Valley, Alta.
If you’re looking for a scare this Halloween, you don’t have to look far in Calgary with several homes across the city transformed into haunted houses.
Some Calgary city council members are taking issue with comments made by Alberta's addiction minister and are reiterating any decision to close a Supervised Consumption Site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre is a provincial responsibility.
Ottawa will be a major stop along an incoming high speed rail line, which will soon be announced by the federal government.
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Provincial Police say a man in his 80s is in critical condition after being hit while trying to cross Highway 13.
Chiropractor Alain Levaque started decorating his Greenfield Park lawn for Halloween 13 years ago and gets about 2,000 visitors every year.
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A growing trend in Edmonton means plenty of newly renovated homes on the market. And that buyers need to beware.
A 24-year-old woman has died after she was hit by a Halifax Transit bus Thursday morning.
Mason Louie of Moncton, N.B., has been decorating his house since 2019, but this year his family received a note calling the display too scary for children.
The daughter of a Nova Scotia woman who was killed by her husband of 33 years earlier this month in Enfield says she wants police to release more details about domestic violence cases.
Winnipeg restaurant owners are calling for help amid rising crime in their dining rooms, saying the province’s retail crime initiative doesn’t go far enough.
Newly elected trustees at the Mountain View School Division, hope they can help end months of turmoil surrounding the school board.
A Winnipeg high school football record that has stood since 2009 has been broken by two different players.
A large percentage of newly elected MLAs in Saskatchewan are women, according to a Canadian organization called Equal Voice.
Conservation officers are asking for tips from the public after about 100 snow geese were shot and left to waste near Moose Jaw.
Here's a look at the candidates for Ward 2 ahead Regina's civic election on Nov. 13.
An 80-year-old Cambridge woman is dead following a crash in Cambridge Thursday morning.
People living in an encampment in Guelph have been told they have two weeks to pack up and get out.
Thursday marks one of the biggest days on the Hindu calendar, with Diwali bringing in millions of people together in worship and celebration.
Saskatchewan RCMP are looking for a man wanted in connection with a dangerous person alert sent out across the province last week.
A large percentage of newly elected MLAs in Saskatchewan are women, according to a Canadian organization called Equal Voice.
Four Saskatoon mayoral candidates had their chance to challenge each other on various issues during a televised debate Wednesday night.
Between Timmins and Thunder Bay, only Sensenbrenner Hospital in Kapuskasing has an operating obstetrics department.
Juanita Migwans – or 'Winnie,' as her family calls her – of M'Chigeeng First Nation has been missing for almost a month.
With news that big box grocery stores are allowed to sell alcohol, 鶹Ӱ decided to check in with local convenience stores to see how sales are going.
The London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) past financial practices are going under a criminal microscope.
As reported on Tuesday, police said a man was with his family in a park near King Street and Thames Street, when an unknown man approached.
On Thursday, Maya Pluchowski resumed with her testimony telling the jury about the moments after an 18-year-old Western University student was shot and killed.
York Regional Police (YRP) are on the hunt for a man allegedly involved in the shooting of a 65-year-old man in Schomberg as he walked his dog in February 2023.
A large group of people have been temporarily displaced after a fire at an Orillia apartment complex.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall is ready to take action to address the issue of homeless encampments popping up in open areas, which is bound to come with some backlash.
The 2024 Poppy Campaign is officially underway, in support of the Royal Canadian Legion.
As famers across southwestern Ontario flirt with record-breaking warmth, many are watching the skies, waiting to start preparations for the colder months ahead.
A man accused of attempted murder has been arrested for failing to comply with his bail conditions.
Mounties in British Columbia have discovered the 'largest and most sophisticated' drug-production laboratory in Canadian history, federal investigators announced Thursday, describing the facility as a 'super lab' operated by international organized criminals.
Vote counting in the British Columbia provincial election will finally conclude next week with judicial recounts set for two ridings.
Three and a half years after losing her only child, a Victoria mother has confirmed something she has long believed: her daughter’s death was not an accident.
More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.
Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.
A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.
The University of Lethbridge Pronghorn Athletics Annual Safe Ride Home campaign is making a return this year, but with a new name.
A three goal outburst in the first period of Wednesday night’s game against the Swift Current Broncos was all the Hurricanes need on their way to 3-1 win at home against the Swift Current Broncos.
A 27-year-old security guard has been charged after an incident where a bar patron sustained life-threatening injuries.
A 40-year-old suspect has been charged with sexual assault following an incident Wednesday in Sault Ste. Marie.
Juanita Migwans – or 'Winnie,' as her family calls her – of M'Chigeeng First Nation has been missing for almost a month.
The City of Greater Sudbury has been chosen to host the Ontario 55+ Summer Games next year.
Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general has issued a warning about the province's financial position as the government announced it would finish the 2024-25 fiscal year with a higher-than-expected deficit.
Police in Newfoundland and Labrador have charged an off-duty RCMP officer for allegedly driving while impaired, following a crash on Sunday.
The human remains recovered off Placentia Bay, N.L., earlier this month have been identified as the coast guard employee who went missing at sea in September.
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