Natural gas and the environment : response to the Voluntary Challenge and Registry

The Canadian Gas Association and its 270 member companies have actively participated in the Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR) program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This report summarizes VCR-related activities of the member companies, and discusses the environmental advantages of natural gas. Natural gas, although clean burning, does emit greenhouse gases. About 70 per cent of all emissions attributable to natural gas occur at the point of combustion, primarily when the burning of methane produces carbon dioxide. The many challenges that the industry faces in reducing emissions from natural gas were described. It was noted that given the increase in demand for natural gas, the most important challenge is to recognize that emission reduction from combustion will only occur if sufficient time and resources are available to develop new technologies. Many companies have established their own internal emission reduction targets to year 2000 and beyond. Examples of some of these targets were provided. Examples of demand-side management initiatives, technology development, partnerships and association initiatives were also cited. It was noted that since the start of the VCR program, progress has been made in emissions reductions on a unit of energy basis. However, it is also important to note that demand for natural gas is increasing at a rate which exceeds the historic rate of emissions reductions achieved through energy conservation and efficiency improvements, hence the need for even greater reductions on a unit of energy basis