{"id":22510,"date":"2023-07-13T17:12:10","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=22510"},"modified":"2025-12-04T10:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T15:08:14","slug":"without-action-unreported-methane-pollution-from-saskatchewan-could-threaten-canadas-climate-goals-and-create-more-fallout-from-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2023\/07\/13\/without-action-unreported-methane-pollution-from-saskatchewan-could-threaten-canadas-climate-goals-and-create-more-fallout-from-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Without action, unreported methane pollution from Saskatchewan could threaten Canada\u2019s climate goals and create more fallout from climate change"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Burning<\/a><\/p>\n

By Ari Pottens<\/a> and Scott Seymour<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that the rampant, out-of-control wildfires which are devastating parts of Canada<\/a> and creating toxic air quality conditions for millions of people, are exacerbated by climate change. This makes it all the more crucial to rapidly reduce the greenhouse gases behind the climate crisis.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Canada\u2019s federal government implemented new regulations to stem the methane emitted from the oil and gas industry \u2014 the leading source of methane in the country. The \u00a0protections were intended to help cut emissions by 40% – 45% by 2025. Subsequently, the federal government significantly increased its methane ambition and set a 75% reduction goal by 2030.<\/p>\n

But a new study<\/a> is revealing some problems with the way Saskatchewan is managing emissions from a very specific type of oil production known as Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand. It just so happens that a lot of gas, most of which is methane,\u00a0 also comes out during this process.<\/p>\n

Rather than capturing that gas and using or selling it, much of it is simply released into the atmosphere unreported. Research published earlier this year<\/a> revealed emissions from this process are four times higher than what companies report to the government. This is generating massive amounts of climate pollution and massive amounts of energy waste. According to the new research, this process has wasted nearly $40 million worth of gas since 2020.<\/em> None of it was reported to the Canadian government.<\/p>\n