Exclusive: Fixing a leak can be simple and equivalent to closing a coal power station, making lack of action maddening, say analysts
The world’s worst mega-leaks of the potent greenhouse gas methane in 2025 have been revealed by an analysis of satellite data.
The super-polluting plumes from oil and gas facilities have a colossal heating impact on the climate but often result from poor maintenance and can be simple to fix. The assessment found dozens of mega-leaks, each having the same global heating impact as a coal-fired power station.
The researchers said it was “maddening” that such easy action to fight the climate crisis was not being taken, and said people should be angry. Stopping the leaks can even be free, given that captured gas can be sold – methane is the “natural gas” that fires power stations.
Yes collective action matters. I also think it’s hard to wholly separate corporate activity from consumers. It’s not like factories are just over there polluting for their own reasons. At the end of the day, most of what is produced goes to consumers. Now, there are times when individuals don’t have good options to choose. Want to avoid plastics? Good luck eating. We do need to lean on corporations and governments to solve some problems. So let’s do that! It’s not mutually exclusive with individual and collective action.