EPA released the final version of its 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) on Thursday, and the latest government data clearly show that methane emissions from U.S. oil and natural gas systems continue to decline even as production skyrockets. From the report:

“Methane emissions from natural gas systems and petroleum systems (combined here) decreased from 235.0 [million metric ton CO2 equivalent (MMT CO 2 Eq.)] in 1990 to 202.1 MMT CO 2 Eq. in 2016 (32.8 MMT CO 2 Eq. or 14.0 percent decrease from 1990 to 2016).”

The 32.8 mmt in oil and natural gas methane emission declines from 1990 to 2016 have come at the same time that natural gas and oil production increased 50 and 21 percent, respectively.

Visit EIDClimate.org to read the full blog post.