Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the controlled release or combustion of methane from oil and gas production sites will be almost completely banned by 2030.
Mr. Guilbeault is in Dubai for the annual climate change negotiations, known this year as COP28.
He published draft regulations on Monday aimed at reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by at least 75% by 2030, compared to 2012 emissions.
A federal study found in 2021 that Canada was on track to meet its current regulatory goal of reducing methane emissions from oil and gas by 40% to 45% by 2025. However, more recent analyzes suggest that methane leaks and releases are not well documented.
Methane (CH4) does not stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide (CO2), but it retains heat better, so reducing methane emissions is considered one of the most effective ways to reduce global warming.
In 2021, methane accounted for just under 14% of Canada’s total emissions, including 40% from the oil and gas industry.
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