Clearing the Air

This working paper by the World Resources Institute evaluates methods for reducing upstream fugitive methane emissions in the U.S. natural gas sector, arguing that reducing leakage rates to below 1 percent of total production would make natural gas's climate impact lower than that of coal or diesel.

• Reducing methane leakage rates in natural gas systems to under 1 percent of total production would ensure that natural gas has a lower climate impact than diesel fuel or coal across any time horizon. This target is achievable by cutting current emissions by one-half to two-thirds using cost-effective, proven technologies.
• While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced standards to reduce leakage, further action from the EPA and individual states is required to address fugitive methane from existing and new equipment and wells. Federal rules based on Clean Air Act (CAA) authorities are suggested as a framework that allows for state flexibility and industry input.
• The U.S. goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 requires more than the shift from coal to natural gas in electric generation; cost-effective methane leakage cuts are identified as a critical step toward this goal.
• Natural gas infrastructure emits not only methane but also carbon dioxide, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). EPA standards finalized in 2012 for VOCs and HAPs help improve air quality and provide the co-benefit of reducing methane.
• Most strategies to reduce leaks and venting in U.S. natural gas systems are cost-effective, typically featuring payback periods of three years or less.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Clearing the Air. https://www.wri.org/research/clearing-air

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Clearing the Air. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/clearing-air.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Clearing the Air |url=https://www.wri.org/research/clearing-air |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendclearing, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Clearing the Air}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/clearing-air}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }