In 2024, atmospheric methane levels reached their highest point in more than 800,000 years, with the oil and gas sector playing a major role in that surge. The methane leaks from oil and gas operations don’t just warm the planet - they also release toxic pollutants that can harm people’s health.
The Methane Risk Map plots significant methane leak events across the United States. By combining emissions data with air quality modeling, it not only identifies where methane “super-emitter” events occurred but also illustrates where nearby communities may have been exposed to hazardous co-pollutants.
When you select a methane leak event on the interactive map, a heatmap visualization shows the areas potentially affected by the leak. The sidebar provides additional details, including the event date, emissions rate, estimated number of people impacted, and the number of sensitive facilities (such as schools and hospitals) within the affected area.
By highlighting sensitive sites such as schools, childcare centers, nursing homes, and hospitals, the map emphasizes how methane leaks may disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Methane is invisible and odorless, making its risks hard to detect. The map aims to make those hidden dangers visible, and will hopefully empower communities and policymakers with evidence they can potentially act on.
