Embedded Files
This site is under construction 🚧🙂🚧 Message the mods at our Reddit community if you'd like to help. We'd be excited to have it!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Natural gas warms our planet, and produced dangerous chemicals which can build up in our homes, harming our health.
Companies often burn off excess gas because it can be more expensive to harvest from drill sites than it would be worth to see. Even when companies do capture it for use, a small percentage leaks at the drill site, then each time it is loaded or offloaded from ships, then again from faulty equipment, including stoves that are turned off. Since the industry has continued to expand this "small percentage" lost at each stage, is turning out to be increasingly alarming as studies find higher rates of loss than the gas industry has been reporting to the public.
Old wells often leak, and are costly to plug. Earthquakes, and the mere fact that many orphan wells are hard to find even with historical maps, means that even when these holes are plugged, they can later be damaged, releasing natural gas into the environment again.
Dangers of Natural Gas
Dangers of Natural Gas
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
Natural gas can build up in basements and homes. If you smell it, report the leak immediately and evacuate the area. Turn off any flames as these can cause an explosion.
Climate Change / Global Warming
Climate Change / Global Warming
Methane Emissions
Methane Emissions
~10-15%
"Since methane is the primary constituent of natural gas, these emissions are an untapped source of value, contingent on the necessary infrastructure being put in place. Moreover, there are numerous options to prevent losses in upstream production, including LDAR, equipment electrification or replacement, instrument air systems, and vapor-recovery units." - McKinsey Sustainability
"Methane from human activity is emitted by five key industries: oil and gas, coal, agriculture, solid waste, and waste water."
Global methane from human activities, % share. 100% = 380 metric megatons of methane per year.
"Other" includes industry and vehicle transport emissions.
Gas Wells - Leaks & Explosions
Gas Wells - Leaks & Explosions
Gas wells can not only leak methane into the atmosphere but into soil and water, creating dangerous conditions which kill off crops and other life.
Grid Fragility & Reliance on Greedy Corporations
Grid Fragility & Reliance on Greedy Corporations
Increasing Natural Disaster Rates and Intensities Threaten Grid Stability
Increasing Natural Disaster Rates and Intensities Threaten Grid Stability
In addition to the increasing number and increasing strengths of everything from cold snaps and heat waves to hurricanes and tornadoes, much of the global grid is quite old. Many companies have failed to keep their grid infrastructure up to date, often pocketing government money instead of investing it in new or backup parts.
2:24 minute video "Those deadly blackouts that killed hundreds of people during the 20-21 winter storm may have been an inside job. A new lawsuit alleges energy companies created an artificial natural gas shortage. KXAN's Tom Miller talked to The Hill reporter Saul Elbein about the other claims made in the suit."
Solutions
Solutions
Plug Up Oil & Gas Wells
Plug Up Oil & Gas Wells
On this site we generally aim to list things from most to least impactful, but at this time we don't have the data to say whether plugging up abandoned oil and gas wells would prevent more emissions than reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
This solution is a level 3-4 action, which should be utilized by both the energy industry and governments to make immediate reductions in methane emissions.
Reduce Energy Consumption
Reduce Energy Consumption
The following are listed (to the best of our ability) from most affordable, accessible, and impactful, with more expensive, and less impactful options after. Both consumers and producers should be mindful of these solutions.
Reduce Energy Use
Reduce Energy Use
Reducing our energy consumption is the fastest way to reduce fossil fuel use, and helps renewables fill the gap instead of playing catch-up to ever inflating energy demands.
Consume Responsibly
Consume Responsibly
Since a considerable amount of energy goes into producing goods, one of the simplest and more affordable ways to reduce our energy use, is to simply buy less, fix what we already own, and re-use or recycle whenever possible.
Switch to Renewable Energy
Switch to Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is always getting cheaper, and with more trained installers, easier to get hooked up to clean energy than ever before!
Legal Accountability
Legal Accountability
Gas companies need to be held legal liable for polluting, price gouging, and other illegal behaviors.
Apps & Resources
Apps & Resources
En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator "is a fast, powerful climate solutions scenario tool for understanding how we can achieve our climate goals through changes in energy, land use, consumption, agriculture, and other policies. The simulator focuses on how changes in global GDP, energy efficiency, technological innovation, and carbon price influence carbon emissions, global temperature, and other factors. It is designed to provide a synthesis of the best available science on climate solutions and put it at the fingertips of groups in policy workshops and roleplaying games. These experiences enable people to explore the long-term climate impacts of global policy and investment decisions.
En-ROADS is being developed by Climate Interactive, Ventana Systems, UML Climate Change Initiative, and MIT Sloan.
This guide provides background on the dynamics of En-ROADS, tips for using the simulator, general descriptions, real-world examples, slider settings, and model structure notes for the different sliders in En-ROADS."
North America
North America
USA
USA
Oil & Gas Watch "to give the public access to information about the rapid expansion of the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries in the United States."
Texas
Commission Shift: Report Portal "will forward your complaint to the Railroad Commission, but only Commission Shift will have your identifying information. We will not share it with anyone."
South America
South America
Portal Energético para América Latina "GEM’s Latin America Energy Portal offers a region-wide perspective on energy infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean, through interactive maps and thousands of wiki pages. The Portal synthesizes GEM’s research on nearly 5,000 projects throughout the region, including coal- and gas-fired power plants, oil and gas pipelines, oil and gas extraction sites, LNG terminals, solar farms, wind farms, coal terminals, coal mines and steel plants that meet a predetermined size threshold. Additional resources include country energy profiles, statistical data, reports, and links to organizations working towards a sustainable energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean. ...
To learn about the various components of each GEM tracker, read About GEM’s Trackers. To receive notifications on this project, please sign up for our mailing list. If you have questions about this project, please contact the Project Manager, Gregor Clark."
Organizations
Organizations
Europe
Europe
Beyond Fossil Fuels "Our vision is of a fair and sustainable, renewables-based European electricity sector that is predominantly powered by wind and solar energy, and free of fossil fuels by 2035. It will supply a nature-friendly energy system that minimises waste, and maximises efficiency through the electrification of heating, industry and transport, the insulation of buildings and the delivery of power via smart technology, providing permanently clean and affordable energy for generations to come."
North America
North America
USA
USA
Clean Water Action "is working to protect people and communities from oil and gas production's harmful environmental and health impacts while pushing for the transition to a clean energy economy."
The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) created Oil & Gas Watch "to give the public access to information about the rapid expansion of the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries in the United States.
Over the last decade and a half, fracking and other new drilling techniques have turned the United States into the largest producer of oil and gas in the world. But the buildup of the industry does not just involve drilling sites and wells – although that’s what people most often associate with oil and gas.
Downstream from those oil and gas wells, a vast web of pipelines, tanks, compressor stations, processing plants, refineries, liquefied natural gas export terminals, and chemical plants is also spreading across the U.S., often outside the consciousness of the public.
It is this oil and gas infrastructure – and the massive amount of pollution that it produces, out of sight and out of mind – that is the focus of Oil & Gas Watch. Monitoring the expansion of the industry’s infrastructure and downstream refineries and chemical plants has become increasingly important. The growth of the web of pipelines and downstream facilities means not only more pollution, but also the long-term locking-in of demand for oil, gas, and other petroleum products for decades to come. People living near or working at these sites also face dangers from explosions, fires, and leaks of toxic gases. These hazards to nearby communities become even greater with climate change, as many refineries and chemical plants are built in flood zones and are overwhelmed by hurricanes and floods.
The information in Oil & Gas Watch comes from public sources, including state and federal government records and public filings and press releases from industry."
Stop the Money Pipeline "We are a coalition of 230+ organizations working to hold the financial sector accountable for its role in fueling climate chaos and environmental racism.
Join us to help end financing for fossil fuels."The Youth Climate Finance Alliance "is a youth-led and youth-centered network of individual organizers and organizations. Our team’s purpose is to serve as a resource, network, and support system for grassroots youth climate organizations across the so-called US. We facilitate growth through skill development and transformative relationship building which enables local youth leaders to build and wield power against corporate climate villains and end extractive institutions and industries, with a particular emphasis on the financial pipeline to the fossil fuel industry.
We believe in growing the power of grassroots youth organizers and organizations. The young people we work with have immense revolutionary potential and power. With support, guidance, and community, they will radically change the world for the better. We see climate finance as a strategic, targeted pathway to channel the energy of youth climate organizers and target financial institutions that are directly responsible for funding fossil fuel infrastructure and projects, harming communities, our planet, and our future."
Texas
Commission Shift "is reforming oil and gas oversight in the state of Texas by building public support to hold the Railroad Commission of Texas accountable to its mission in a shifting energy landscape. The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency. Despite not being well known among Texans, the commission holds a position of national and global importance when it comes to oil and gas oversight.
Together with our supporters and fellow advocates, we have established ourselves as an authority on the Railroad Commission. Local, state, and national media outlets and public officials routinely seek us out for guidance and comment on Railroad Commission issues."
Maps & Trackers
Maps & Trackers
North America
North America
USA
USA
Oil & Gas Watch "to give the public access to information about the rapid expansion of the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries in the United States."
South America
South America
Portal Energético para América Latina "GEM’s Latin America Energy Portal offers a region-wide perspective on energy infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean, through interactive maps and thousands of wiki pages. The Portal synthesizes GEM’s research on nearly 5,000 projects throughout the region, including coal- and gas-fired power plants, oil and gas pipelines, oil and gas extraction sites, LNG terminals, solar farms, wind farms, coal terminals, coal mines and steel plants that meet a predetermined size threshold. Additional resources include country energy profiles, statistical data, reports, and links to organizations working towards a sustainable energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean. ...
To learn about the various components of each GEM tracker, read About GEM’s Trackers. To receive notifications on this project, please sign up for our mailing list. If you have questions about this project, please contact the Project Manager, Gregor Clark."
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse