Emissions standards for crude oil and natural gas facilities in California

In 2016, California’s oil and gas production, processing, and storage sector emitted about 3.3 million metric tons of methane — the main component of natural gas and a potent climate pollutant - using a 20-year Global Warming Potential.

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities, or the Oil and Gas Methane Regulation, was designed to reduce methane emissions from this sector and is anticipated to result in over 1.4 million metric tons of methane emission reductions per year when fully implemented in 2021, which is more than a 40% reduction from 2016 levels.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is leading the way to curb climate change emissions in the region and the Oil and Gas Methane Regulation reinforces the importance of a strong institutional mechanism to tackle harmful effects of climate change.

This case study was developed as part of the Methane Project. The aim of this project is to support Under2 Coalition members to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations within their jurisdictions and showcase their achievements to other governments.