Reducing Fossil Fuel Methane Emissions Could Prevent 1 Million Premature Deaths, Says New Report
• New report from International Energy Agency says 1 million deaths could be prevented by reducing methane emissions from oil, gas, and coal industries
• Methane is a powerful heat-trapping gas that escapes from fossil fuel operations and contributes 30% to historical global temperature rise
• Continued methane emissions expected to cause 1 million premature deaths by 2050 due to ozone exposure, plus substantial crop losses and economic damages
• More than 75% of methane emissions from oil/gas and half from coal can be reduced with existing low-cost technologies
• Fossil fuel industry "likely holds the largest potential for rapid and low-cost reductions in methane emissions"