World Bank Sounds Alarm: Global Gas Flaring Hits 17-Year High in 2024
2024 Gas Flaring Crisis: Key Findings Global flaring volume: ▲ 3 bcm to 151 bcm (highest since 2007) Flaring intensity: Unchanged for 15+ years (per barrel of oil produced) Top 9 flaring nations: Account for 75% of flares but <50% of oil output CO2e emissions: 389 million tonnes (incl. unburnt methane) ⚠️ Why This Matters ✔ Wasted energy: Flared gas could power millions in energy-poor regions✔ Climate impact: Methane from flares is 80x worse than CO₂ short-term✔ 2030 deadline: Zero Routine Flaring (ZRF) initiative is off-track 🌐 Regional Flaring Hotspots CountryTrendKey IssueRussia▲ FlaringAging infrastructureIraq▲ FlaringWeak regulationNigeria▼ Flaring (ZRF)Progress but still highUSA▲ Flaring (Permian)Shale boom side-effect 💡 World Bank’s Solutions 1️⃣ Policy Reform: Enforce stricter flaring bans & methane caps2️⃣ Tech Investment: Satellite monitoring (NOAA) + flare-capture systems3️⃣ Funding: GFMR grants for flare-to-power projects4️⃣ Corporate Accountability: Penalties for routine flaring 🗣️ Expert Warning *“Flaring is climate arson. Every year we delay, the 2030 zero-flaring goal slips further away.”*— Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership 📌 Success Stories ✅ Norway: <1% flaring via strict taxes & gas […]