BIG STEP FOR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM OIL GIANTS
The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), created by the world's giant energy companies, has set a target for the first time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to pull in the 21 kg range. "This is an important milestone," said OGCI President Bob Dudley. "The set level is not the end of the job, only the short-term goal. We will take this further by making updates." According to environmental organizations, this is not a sufficient number. Still it is a big step for greenhouse gas emissions problem from oil giants.
“HAVING SOME TARGETS TO REDUCE CARBON POLLUTION IS BETTER THAN NONE,”
The OGC; It was created by BP, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, Exxon, Occidental Petroleum, Petrobras, Repsol, Saudi Aramco, Shell and Total. These 12 companies produce more than 30 percent of the world's oil and gas production. Members agreed on a common methodology to calculate carbon intensity. In addition, similar targets are on the agenda in liquefied natural gas and refining areas.
London-based environmental organization Carbon Tracker claims that the goals set by OGCI are not in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement. Andrew Grant, head of the organization's Oil, Gas and Coal, said, “Having some targets to reduce carbon pollution is better than none, the (oil and gas) industry can never consider itself ‘aligned’ with the Paris goals when business plans assume steady investment in fossil fuel production on a planet with absolute limits”.
THE GOAL OF NORWEGIAN ENQUINOR IS 8 KG PER BARREL
Nevertheless, OGCI's decision expresses a big change especially for Exxon, the largest oil company in the USA. Exxon did not report carbon emission values in 2019. A company spokesperson said, “Exxon supports the decision. We are part of the meaningful steps taken by the industry to reduce emissions.”
The goals set by different companies may differ significantly in scope and definition. Even within OGCI, some members are trying to exceed the set common goal. For example, Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil exporter, had a carbon density of 10.1 kg of CO2e / boe in 2019. Norwegian Enquinor wants to achieve the 8 kg target by 2025. Currently, the global sector average is 18 kg.
OGCI also announced that the target set will be audited by an independent third party.