Efforts to Reduce Methane Emissions Cannot Trample on the Poor

The perspectives of low- and middle-income oil- and gas-producing countries are absolutely critical to the global conversation about methane emissions reduction. 

First, regarding transparency, we must build the public debate and accountability on methane reduction within producer countries. This is an exceptionally powerful tool for ensuring that policies and commitments actually translate into action.

Second, national oil companies account for more than half of the world’s petroleum production, and that number is likely to increase. But we also know that many NOCs are not delivering on their commitments. One of these is Mexico’s Pemex. They have multiple commitments to bring down emissions. They're backed by a legal framework, but we need greater transparency, incentives and financing to be able to deliver on that.

Lastly, we must ensure that efforts to reduce methane emissions don't inadvertently trample on the poor. We know that addressing methane reduction is essential for the capacity of these low- and middle-income producing countries to trade in the global market, given consumer market practices and policies such as the EU methane regulations, but we need technical, financial and political support to ensure that we address methane initiatives and do not deepen long standing inequities in our energy and economic system.