Super Pollutants

CATF advocates for super pollutant emissions reductions in the U.S. and internationally by supporting scientific research, promoting policy initiatives, encouraging the development of financial incentives for pollution controls, and championing and defending standards that can dramatically reduce emissions of these climate super pollutants.

The Latest in Super Pollutants

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News & Media

Photos from B.C.’s leaking methane gas wells confirm need for stronger regulations

EARTHWORKS, PEMBINA INSTITUTE, CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE AND DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION VANCOUVER — Images taken with high-tech equipment of leaking methane pollution from gas wells in Montney Basin in northeast British Columbia show the need for stronger regulations for the oil and gas industry. B.C. plans to finalize methane regulations in 2019. In December, the

December 19, 2018 News & Media

Alberta’s methane regulations will fail to meet provincial reduction target

Province fails to demonstrate how carbon price and methane rules will achieve the GHG reductions needed to match federal rules.

December 13, 2018 Super Pollutants

Time to Celebrate a Climate Success: Mexico’s Methane Regulations for the Oil and Gas Sector Have Raised the Bar for the Rest of the World

The alarm rang at 3:15 am. Of course, I didn’t get the text from the airline that my flight was delayed till I was already in the cab to the airport. A one-hour delay meant my connection in Newark was going to be tight, real tight. Like sprinting through the airport, yelling at the gate […]

November 14, 2018 Super Pollutants

EPA Data Shows Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Oil & Gas Increase

When EPA released data on US industrial 2017 greenhouse gas emissions earlier this month, the oil and gas industry was quick to point out that their methane emissions had fallen between 2016 and 2017. We’ll explore the methane emissions trend in future blog posts. First, however, we want to look at the bigger picture, because […]

November 2, 2018 Super Pollutants

EPA Publishes Paper on Health Impacts of Oil and Gas Air Pollution

EPA scientists recently published a paper documenting serious and widespread human health impacts from the pollution dumped in the air by the US oil and gas industry.

October 5, 2018 Super Pollutants

Slamming the Brakes on Climate Super Pollutants

Is there still time to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, the aspirational aim of the Paris Agreement? This week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its take on that question.

October 8, 2018 Super Pollutants

Mexico is Stepping Up to Lead the Fight Against Methane Pollution

Mexico has joined a growing number of countries and state/provincial governments with the issuance of proposed enforceable methane standards for the Mexican oil and gas sector.

July 30, 2018 Super Pollutants

Lessons Learned in Reducing Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Sector

After carbon dioxide, methane is the second most important climate pollutant, with a potency over eighty times that of CO2 over a 20-year period.

May 17, 2018

Our Efforts

CATF’s super pollutant initiatives are aimed at reducing pollutants that will have the greatest impact on warming the planet over the near term and offer the most promising targets for immediate cleanup. Taken together, efforts to reduce super pollutants globally could prevent more than half a degree C of warming along with numerous other public health and ecological benefits. CATF’s efforts target two of the most concerning short-lived climate pollutants, methane and black carbon. Because these pollutants have a much shorter atmospheric lifespan than CO₂, significant cuts in their emissions will yield much faster reductions in planetary warming, as compared to reductions in CO₂.

CATF is actively advocating for super pollutant emission reductions in international and domestic venues, supporting scientific research, promoting policy initiatives, encouraging the development of financial incentives for pollution controls, and championing and defending standards that can dramatically reduce emissions of these significant climate pollutants. CATF is currently focused on reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector and black carbon emissions from oil and gas flaring and the shipping industry as these offer the most promising targets for immediate cleanup through low-cost solutions and readily implementable policy changes.

Our Goal

Catalyze deep, global reductions in methane and black carbon emissions to help stave off the risk of irreversible changes to our climate.

Our Impact In

Scope of Work
Achievements

Scope of Work

Research & Analysis: CATF investigates and reports on the negative health and environmental impacts of SLCPs. CATF also evaluates available emission control technologies and techniques to formulate best practices for controlling emissions.

Policy Advocacy: CATF works to develop and implement policy and regulatory solutions for cutting SLCP emissions that can be applied both in the U.S. as well as internationally. CATF’s main focus is on the oil and gas sector as there is potential for significant reductions in emissions by implementing policies that are based on common sense practices and low cost emission control measures.

Education & Outreach: CATF plays a lead role in several coalitions focused on SLCP emission cuts, engaging in public education and stakeholder outreach. CATF leads workshops and events to educate other NGOs, governing bodies, industry leaders, and other key allies around the world on the impacts of SLCPs and the best policies and practices for reducing emissions.

Litigation: CATF attorneys represent other NGO client organizations in judicial proceedings and CATF provides expert legal and technical input to the U.S. EPA, Bureau of Land Management, and other regulatory bodies on their SLCP policies.

Achievements

Moved black carbon and methane into mainstream of global environmental campaigning.
Helped enact first-ever emission standards on ocean-going ships at the International Maritime Organization.
Spurred creation of the global Climate & Clean Air Coalition to drive national action and provide technical assistance for key super pollutant emission reductions.
Put SLCP emission reductions at the center of climate discussions at the Arctic Council.
Launched and led an eight-year U.S. Diesel Clean-Up Campaign resulting in many state and federal initiatives including emission limits and over $2 billion in funding that today is substantially reducing U.S. diesel emissions.
Catalyzed formation of the U.S. Methane Partners Campaign in 2014, which secured first-ever U.S. federal methane pollution standards for the oil and gas industry in 2016.
Helped successfully defend EPA’s methane rule from all attacks to date by the current administration.
Supported adoption of strong, nationwide oil and gas methane standards in Mexico and Canada.
CATF has been asked to work with five additional nations on oil and gas methane reduction strategies and regulations.

Project
U.S. Oil and Gas

Emissions from fossil fuel production and transport — especially methane released from oil and gas wells and the processing and transport of natural gas — account for a great deal of climate-warming pollution. Oil and gas companies also leak, flare, and vent billions of dollars’ worth of natural gas, containing methane, in the U.S. every year. CATF has advocated that the U.S. EPA and Department of the Interior require common sense and low-cost measures to reduce methane pollution and waste.

Learn more about our U.S. oil and gas work
Project
International Oil and Gas

CATF’s global methane work seeks to significantly slash as well as prevent increases in methane emissions from oil and gas development. In countries where development is likely to begin or expand, CATF aims to ensure that environmental impacts are minimized through the application of modern technologies and practices and the regulatory knowledge developed over the last 20 years. CATF’s current international work focuses on three key areas where significant progress can be made in preventing and reducing emissions: Canada, Mexico, and South America. In addition, CATF is working with the Arctic Council, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and other international bodies to make methane emission reductions a focus of their work.

Learn more about our international oil and gas work

Project
Other Sources of Methane

While the oil and gas industry is the number one industrial source of methane pollution, reductions in other sectors are not only economically justified but absolutely necessary to realize necessary emission reductions. Substantial emissions also come from dams, coal mining operations, landfills, wastewater treatment, and manure management operations. CATF has worked to develop an understanding of methane emissions from these other sources including technologies and best practices and the barriers to using them, and we work to develop and implement policy and regulatory solutions that can be applied both in the U.S. as well as internationally.

Learn more about other sources of methane
Project
Shipping

Currently, CATF is working to reduce black carbon emissions from the shipping sector and is committed to securing a legally binding phase out of the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters. This effort is particularly critical given the rapid rate of warming in the Arctic and the numerous threats that the use of HFO as bunker fuel poses to the Arctic region.

Learn more about our shipping work