As part of the 9th edition of Energy Week, organized by OLACDE and held in Asunción, Paraguay, the Open Dialogue titled “Toward a Regulatory Framework for Methane in the Energy Industry” took place on October 29.
The event was co-organized by OEMLAC and the Parliamentary Platform for Climate Action Against Methane, an initiative promoted by the Andean Parliament’s Institute of Governance, led by its Director, Juan Pablo Letelier.
The joint event was attended by parliamentarians, deputies, and congressmen from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and Bolivia; the presidents of the Andean Parliament, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament, and Mercosur; and the OEMLAC focal points from the governments of Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Association of Oil, Gas, and Renewable Energy Companies (Arpel), the Global Methane Hub (GMH), UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), and the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the University of California.
During the dialogue, lawmakers were briefed on the Observatory’s mission and the details of the draft bill prepared by the Parliamentary Platform for Climate Action Against Methane, which includes obligations regarding the standardized measurement and reporting of emissions from operations, the implementation of programs for the prevention and control of emissions, and the promotion of public-private partnerships.
The text served as the basis for a lively technical and political debate that highlighted the lawmakers’ interest in contributing to its review and presentation to the respective parliamentary bodies to advance its legislative process.
ONE-FOURTH OF THE METHANE EMITTED BY PEOPLE
Oil and Gas Industry
In 2023 alone, the oil and gas sector released > 78 Mt of methane, which is equivalent to 22 % of global anthropogenic emissions of this gas.
