Oil and gas companies have known for decades about the significant climate risks posed by methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, according to an analysis of industry documents by the Center for Climate Integrity. These documents suggest that companies were aware they were releasing more methane than publicly disclosed.

Methane, while less abundant than carbon dioxide, traps significantly more heat in the atmosphere over a shorter period, making it a critical factor in near-term climate warming. The industry's internal communications and reports, spanning from the 1970s onwards, reveal a sophisticated understanding of methane's impact and the potential consequences for global warming.

Despite this internal knowledge, the public messaging and reported emissions often downplayed the scale of methane releases. The Center for Climate Integrity's report highlights a discrepancy between what industry insiders understood and what was communicated to regulators and the public. This raises questions about the industry's role in addressing climate change and the transparency of their environmental reporting over the past fifty years.