RMI will be at the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Now in its 35th year, SEJ has organized these conferences to gather storytellers and change makers to discuss the environmental issues that shape national and regional reporting. RMI is proud to participate at the conference with both a workshop and beat dinner for those registered for the conference. Registration through official SEJ channels is required to attend these events.
8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT
Recently launched satellites and other remote sensing technologies are, for the first time, providing a more detailed and accurate picture of the location and scale of emissions of methane, a superpotent greenhouse gas, from the oil and gas sector. These orbiting sensors allow us to spot methane emission sources down to the level of a specific facility or piece of equipment – from refineries on the outskirts of Chicago to oil wellheads in west Texas. With US oil and natural gas production at record levels and exports of LNG (liquefied natural gas) multiplying, methane leakage is soaring too. Yet most of these leaks go undetected. For journalists, regulators, and markets alike, better data and more advanced tools are unlocking new insights on these emissions globally — with powerful implications for local and global energy markets, geopolitics, regulation, risk, human health, and much more. By attending this workshop, journalists will better learn what these tools can do, how to apply them, and additional topics including:
Speakers
6:00-8:30 p.m. CT
Register: Email amy.yanowfairbanks@rmi.org to express your interest and receive more information
Societal awareness on the sources and risks of methane emissions and toxic tagalongs like benzene has grown thanks to emissions sensing satellites bringing greater transparency to the plumes originating from landfills, oil and gas operations, or even the idle or low-producing wells scattered throughout our communities. The data from direct observations has underpinned insights on the connection between methane emissions and health, safety, and other issues that matter most to informed community leaders and state legislators.
Join experts from RMI and Carbon Mapper at a beat dinner where we will share how global methane data is translating into local action to address methane from sites including landfills and idle wells, informing tailored policy solutions, empowering community action, and more.
Attending journalists will understand how public data and insights can help identify emissions events in specific locations, tailor solutions to address methane emissions on local and global scales, and walk through examples of success.
Experts Attending:
The OCI⁺ quantifies and compares greenhouse gas emissions intensities from global oil and gas assets. Use this web tool’s interactive features to see where methane and carbon dioxide are emitted and investigate ways to reduce energy waste and the life-cycle emissions intensities of production, refining and petrochemical processing, storage, transport, and end uses.
Marginal wells produce less than 5 percent of the United States' oil and gas — yet they account for 75 percent of America’s currently producing wells. This tool shows which US regions and counties have the highest counts of marginal and submarginal wells.
Continually improving our methane detection capabilities is essential to stop this super-pollutant with 80 times more climate warming potency than carbon dioxide.
A large-scale U.S. study finds that most landfills emit significant, often persistent methane point sources over time, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring and improved mitigation strategies.
Global satellite data reveals that a relatively small number of landfills across dozens of countries account for millions of tons of methane emissions annually, highlighting a major opportunity for targeted waste-sector action.
Aerial surveys show that while many methane super-emitting events are short-lived, a small number persist for days and drive up to half of regional emissions—making them high-impact targets for rapid mitigation.
High-resolution global methane data reveals that a small number of major emitters—especially landfills—drive a disproportionate share of emissions, creating a powerful opportunity for targeted local action to significantly cut national methane output.
The Carbon Mapper data portal is a powerful tool that can help journalists understand and cover methane emissions. In this video for media members, learn to navigate methane data, find plumes in your areas of interest, and use data to underpin reporting that increases awareness and drives action to stop emissions.
