The case for robust operational emissions reduction – backed by public disclosure to foster progress, transparency and accountability – has never been stronger. The increased regulatory and policy focus on reducing methane and flaring emissions from oil and gas production, the degree of cost-effectiveness in pursuing reductions, and the uptake among industry, investors and others suggest that all stakeholders are well aware of the opportunity for climate mitigation and operational efficiency.

In many cases, large improvements in company scores could be achieved with better reporting and increased transparency, especially since companies are likely to be doing more than they are disclosing. This would also provide assurances to external stakeholders that the industry is turning its public pledges into action. Specific actions where improvements could make meaningful differences include:

• Encourage companies to sign the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), which will not only help them set industry-standard targets, but also access technical support and a peer community. Companies that participate in industry collaborations tend to perform better than those operating in isolation.

• Encourage companies to join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) to close the gap in methane emissions data quality. High-quality empirical data are required for effective methane emissions abatement. Additionally, the increased transparency and data quality are key to reporting in a way that generates stakeholder confidence.

• Clearly report scope 1 emissions, distinguishing between methane emissions, flaring levels and other sources of CO₂ emissions. Disclosing the proportion of flaring that is classified as “routine” (using a clear definition) would also allow progress to be tracked against zero routine flaring targets.

• Strengthen emissions reduction aims by extending targets, plans and disclosures to non-operated assets.

• Calculate the costs associated with the identified abatement opportunities and publish a marginal abatement cost curve that allows stakeholders to assess scope, scale and cost of abatement activities.

• Report on asset transfers and their impact on reported emissions. This would usefully include information on which assets were bought and sold, who the counterparties are and, in the case of sales, whether the buyer has a contractual or publicly reported commitment to maintain and execute against the emissions reduction targets and strategies that applied to the asset under the original owner.

• Establish a clear, quantified investment plan to support target achievement (even if imperfect) as this would increase the credibility of a company’s targets, disclosures and implementation plans.

• For OGDC signatories, incorporate targets included within the OGDC into their own materials. This would provide important reassurance that the targets included within the OGDC remain a core component of company strategy. OGDC signatories have also committed to “set and share publicly the aspiration for 2030 of scope 1 and 2 CO₂-eq emissions”. The period before COP30, taking place in November 2025, is an opportunity for many OGDC companies to reiterate their goals and publish interim targets for achieving them.