environment
Invisible plumes and ‘terrible pollution’: the reality of the US gas sites rated ‘grade A’
Exclusive: Guardian investigation into reliability of methane certification issued by MiQ reveals weakness of voluntary model
TL;DR
- A Guardian investigation suggests that the methane emissions certification scheme run by UK nonprofit MiQ may be understating actual methane emissions.
- Major gas producers like BP, ExxonMobil, and EQT use MiQ certification to demonstrate compliance with the EU Methane Regulation (EUMR).
- Optical gas imaging cameras documented significant methane emissions at MiQ-certified sites in the Permian Basin, including malfunctioning flares and leaks from equipment.
- Critics argue that MiQ's audit process, which relies on operator-reported data rather than independent on-site measurements, lacks sufficient scrutiny.
- The ability to 'decouple' MiQ certificates from physical gas and trade them raises concerns about whether they reflect real emissions reductions.
- Industry groups are lobbying for voluntary certification to suffice for EUMR compliance, while environmental experts stress the need for independent verification.
- MiQ maintains its framework is designed to comply with the EUMR, but the investigation highlights discrepancies between certified ratings and observed emissions.