News Excerpt:

A new satellite, MethaneSAT, backed by Google, was launched on a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket to track and measure methane emissions at a global scale.

About MethaneSAT:

• MethaneSat is developed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in partnership with the New Zealand Space Agency and a consortium of universities.
• MethaneSAT is the only known high-precision area-source detection system for methane monitoring.
• The satellite will track leaking methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas companies. 
• It will orbit the planet 15 times a day to capture unprecedented amounts of data on methane emissions from human and natural sources.
• Google has partnered with the EDF to create its first global methane map by the end of the year, ushering in a new era of climate accountability.
• Google will map oil and gas infrastructure using the same AI technology that it uses to identify trees, crosswalks, and intersections from satellite imagery.
• Then, the company will overlay MethaneSAT data onto the map to reveal where leaks are coming from.
• The data collected by MethaneSAT will be made public for free in near real-time. 
• This will allow stakeholders and regulators to take action to reduce methane emissions.

Significance of MethaneSAT:

• Its launch marks the beginning of a new age of accountability for the energy sector.
• More than 150 countries have signed a Global Methane Pledge to cut their gas emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
• During COP28, more than 50 companies committed to virtually eliminating methane emissions and routine flaring. 
• MethaneSAT will help them meet these targets.