石油・ガス分野でメタン削減　日米欧など合意―主要国会議

　【ワシントン時事】バイデン米大統領の主催で主要国首脳級による気候変動対策会議が１７日、オンラインで開かれた。同会議はロシアのウクライナ侵攻後初めてで、日本や中国、欧州連合（ＥＵ）を含め２０を超える国・地域が参加。日米欧などは、石油・天然ガスの生産過程で温室効果ガスの一種「メタン」の排出削減を強化する取り組みを始めることで合意した。
　ホワイトハウスによると昨年以降、メタン排出量を削減すると公約した国・地域は１２０に達した。このうち日米欧など１３カ国・地域は、製油所やガス田から出る余剰ガスを焼却処分する「フレアリング」を問題視。メタンを大量発生させるフレアリングを２０３０年までに廃止する方針で一致した。（2022/06/18-07:29）

Leaders of economies including Japan, the United States and the European Union agreed Friday to start efforts to strengthen emission cuts for methane, a type of greenhouse gas, in the oil and natural gas production process.
   The agreement was reached at an online meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and joined by leaders from over 20 economies, also including China.
   According to the White House, the number of economies pledging to reduce methane emissions since last year has reached 120.
   Of them, 13 economies, including Japan, the United States and the EU, saw flaring, a process of burning excess gas from refineries and gas fields, as problematic as it generates massive amounts of methane, and agreed to abolish flaring by 2030.
   With a view to dealing with the crisis in Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, the leaders also discussed ways to promote cooperation in not only the energy sector but also many other fields, including automobiles, shipping, and agriculture.