Harvard Methane Initiative conducts panel, engages in dialogue, at London Climate Action Week

The Harvard Initiative on Reducing Global Methane Emissions – a research cluster of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability – partnered with RMI to conduct a panel event on June 23, 2026 at London Climate Action Week, titled “Abatement of Methane Emissions in the Oil and Gas Sector: Costs and Opportunities.” Panelists were:

• Deborah Gordon, Senior Principal and Methane Expert, Oil and Gas Solutions Initiative, RMI
• David Seabrook, Business Line Director, Digital Sustainability Platform, SLB
• Robert Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development; Director, Harvard Methane Initiative; Harvard University

The panelists’ presentations are available for download at the end of this page.

RMI’s Debbie Gordon provided introductory context:  Methane-emissions abatement is both a climate strategy and an energy-waste strategy. Natural gas is mostly methane, leaked methane is wasted product, and capturing leaked gas can improve energy security while also creating economic value. Capturing methane from oil and gas operations is one of the most promising near-term opportunities to address climate change.

Harvard’s Robert Stavins then presented ongoing economics research that aims to better estimate abatement costs for oil-and-gas-methane emissions. His presentation reviewed the first stage of his project, with colleagues, which was a survey and synthesis of existing research on abatement costs. A discussion paper presenting the results of this first phase offers two critiques of existing research: 1) it relies too heavily on engineering-cost models, which often include only the costs of purchasing and installing new technology; 2) it utilizes primarily self-reported data, based in part on emission factors.

Robert’s presentation also provided early insight into the ongoing second phase of the project, which addresses these two critiques by using econometric methods that incorporate a range of costs often neglected. These include, for example, costs associated with search for leaks and pipeline constraints of various types. (Capturing gas does not automatically mean it can be transported to market.) With regard to data, Stavins and colleagues are utilizing satellite-based measurement of actual – rather than estimated – emissions, in collaboration with Professor Daniel Jacob and his team at Harvard.

David Seabrook of SLB gave the industry and technology perspective. He noted that technology already exists—both physical and digital—to prevent methane emissions from energy systems. He explored approaches to identifying emissions hotspots, prioritizing capital, and deploying lower-carbon technologies to achieve emissions reduction. He suggested that methane-emissions abatement can align three goals: delivering shareholder value, operating more safely, and cleanly, and maintaining secure energy supply.

The Harvard Methane Initiative team also held bilateral discussions with representatives of MiQ, Spark Climate Solutions, the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter, Carbon Mapper, and bp. During these meetings, participants exchanged insights into approaches to measurement and abatement of methane emissions.

The Harvard Initiative on Reducing Global Methane Emissions – a Research Cluster of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University – seeks meaningful and sustained progress in global methane-emissions reductions through research and effective engagement with government policymakers – and with key stakeholders in business, nongovernmental organizations, and international institutions.

RMI transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a prosperous, resilient, clean energy future for all. RMI works with businesses, policymakers, and communities to scale renewable energy solutions, reduce energy waste, and boost access to affordable clean energy.

The author is grateful to RMI for earlier communications summarizing this panel (for example here), upon which portions of this article are based.