Arctic Drilling Must Protect the Climate

The document highlights the climate risks associated with increased oil and gas production in the Arctic, specifically the emissions of methane and black carbon. It argues that the Arctic is uniquely vulnerable, with temperatures rising at twice the global average, and that the potential for an 'oil and gas rush' could exacerbate this. The authors propose a series of technical and policy interventions to mitigate these impacts, including the elimination of venting, the use of vapor recovery units, the adoption of ultra low sulfur diesel, and the establishment of standardized monitoring and reporting protocols.

• The Arctic is highly susceptible to climate change, with temperatures increasing at approximately double the global average rate over the last century, and 2011 saw the largest retreat of Arctic sea ice on record.
• Methane and black carbon are identified as potent climate pollutants in the Arctic; methane is 25 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years and 72 times more potent over 20 years, while black carbon accelerates ice melt by depositing heat-absorbing soot on white surfaces.
• The disposition of 'associated' natural gas—gas produced alongside oil—is a primary source of emissions; in Alaska, nearly 3 trillion cubic feet per year of such gas is produced, and globally, flaring of associated gas can release approximately 400 million tons of CO2 annually.
• To mitigate climate impacts, the authors recommend several specific technical measures: capturing all associated and completion gas to prevent venting, using vapor recovery units on storage and process tanks, requiring ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) for engines and ships, and establishing standardized monitoring and reporting protocols.

APA

Schneider, C., & Banks, J. (2012). Arctic Drilling Must Protect the Climate. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2012/04/arctic-drilling-must-protect-the-climate/

Chicago

Schneider, Conrad, and Jonathan Banks. Arctic Drilling Must Protect the Climate. Clean Air Task Force, 2012. https://www.catf.us/2012/04/arctic-drilling-must-protect-the-climate/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Schneider |first1=Conrad |last2=Banks |first2=Jonathan |title=Arctic Drilling Must Protect the Climate |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=30 April 2012 |url=https://www.catf.us/2012/04/arctic-drilling-must-protect-the-climate/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{schneider2012arctic, author = {Schneider, Conrad and Banks, Jonathan}, title = {{Arctic Drilling Must Protect the Climate}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2012}, month = apr, url = {https://www.catf.us/2012/04/arctic-drilling-must-protect-the-climate/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }