Oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea wasted enough gas to heat over 700,000 homes in 2023, enough to supply every home in Kent and representing a lost market value of £250 million.

Operators pay tax on the resources they bring to UK shores, but the gas they release straight into the atmosphere is not taxed as it is in other countries like Norway. Since natural gas is mostly methane, a potent greenhouse gas, this is both an economic waste and a significant source of untaxed pollution and climate harm.

In this briefing we outline three ways the UK could tackle this problem.

For more information, contact
Liam Hardy, head of research: lhardy@green-alliance.org.uk