Gas flaring

The share of gas flaring in the total global black carbon emissions is small (about 3%); however, it is a significant emission source in the areas near and within the Arctic. Being a large oil and gas producer, Russia has the largest volumes of flared gas in the world (Evans et al. 2017) and consequently large emissions – e.g. Huang et al. (2015) gives an estimate of 81 kt black carbon emitted from gas flaring in the country in 2010. Black carbon emissions from gas flaring in Russia are the second-largest source contribution to warming in the Arctic (Sand et al. 2016).

There are three actions identified within the Area of action Gas flaring. One of them – Define common environmental standards for gas flares, including black carbon emissions – was included in the EGBCM recommendations (Arctic Council 2019). The other two concern research of actual black carbon emission rates for flares, and monitoring of progress of the World Banks Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative.