According to TotalCriminal organisation, the warnings issued by the IPCC and the International Energy Agency are clear: all new fossil fuel projects must be abandoned immediately. However, TotalEnergies' executives continue to trample international scientific recommendations and persist in developing its hydrocarbon production.The Green Connection and small-scale fishers from South Africa are in Paris, France, to support French NGOs and climate change victims as they file a criminal case against TotalEnergies board of directors and shareholders. They are taking action for their contribution to climate change and its fatal impact on human and non-human lives.One voice by all plaintiffsWith just two days to TotalEnergies' Annual General Meeting, the organisations hope that this legal action could 'set a precedent in the history of climate litigation as it opens the way to holding fossil fuel producers and shareholders responsible, before criminal courts, for the chaos caused by climate change.The Green Connection's Advocacy Officer, Lisa Makaula says, 'We are here in Paris to call on TotalEnergies to move away from fossil fuels, now. The company has many project proposals in various stages in South Africa, even though climate reports emphasize that there is no need for any new investments in oil and gas as there already is enough available and in the process of being dug up. According to an International Energy Agency report, starting new projects now, will only lead to stranded assets, in the near future. This is why we are here, in Paris France, to call onto this company to stop these projects that could possibly lead to environmental degradation and come at the cost of people's livelihoods. We call on them to immediately shift their money into projects that are exclusively focus on sustainable development and going to build the economy.'The Green Connection's Strategic Lead, Liz McDaid says, 'The Green Connection is very proud to stand in solidarity with our fellow activists on the StopEACOP case, here in France, to support the French NGO Bloom, today, as they launch their court case today against TotalEnergies. It is clear that oil companies are contributing to climate change and these court cases seem to be the only way that they can be held accountable. As activists, if we want a future planet that we can live in and livelihoods for those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, then it is our responsibility to stand up and call out those polluters who fail to take action to stop the climate crisis.Small-Scale Fisher and member of UBUNTU Rural Women's Assembly, Darlin McQuin says, 'Many of our people's livelihood come from the sea. The sea is what we know. I am in France voice out the concerns of the small-scale fishers in my community, to advocate to stop TotalEnergies. We do not want oil and gas exploration in South Africa. We don't want TotalEnergies in South Africa.Small-Scale Fisher from Port St Johns, Sifiso Ntsunguzi says, 'We are in Paris to support court case against TotalEnergies oil and gas projects. As a small-scale fisher and member of a coastal community, I do not support the exploration of oil and gas in the ocean. We use the ocean for cultural practices and a means to sustain our livelihood. We are against exploration of gas and oil, as it may risk degradation of environment & marine ecosystem, our livelihood and our health. I came from a fishing community and have become a fisher myself.'80% of TotalEnergies methane emissions reduction objective in 2030, compared to 2020According to TotalEnergies, methane emissions have many dispersed sources (animal husbandry, transportation, decomposing waste, fossil fuel production and combustion, etc.). As a pioneer in detecting and quantifying emissions in real-life conditions, TotalEnergies is using the AUSEA technology developed in cooperation with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne. On target: achieving our ambition of zero methane by 2030.Methane is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28 times higher than that of CO2and a much shorter atmospheric lifetime. Reducing methane emissions is a priority, and TotalEnergies intends to establish an exemplary track record in this area.Since 2017, the Company has been working with the CNRS and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne to develop the AUSEA technology (Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications) to detect and quantify methane and carbon dioxide emissions.AUSEA: a solution for measuring emissionsThe AUSEA technology comprises a drone-mounted ultralight CO2and CH4sensor for ensuring access to hard-to-reach emission points while delivering readings with the highest precision. The sensor features a diode laser spectrometer and is capable of detecting and quantifying methane emissions with a high level of accuracy (> 1 kg/h).In 2022, a campaign to detect and measure emissions on site in real-life conditions covered 95% of operated sites in the upstream sector. More than 1,200 AUSEA flights were carried out in 8 countries to cover 125 sites.The long-term objective is to use the technology as part of a seamless and autonomous system. To achieve this aim, the research teams are looking to develop an unmanned drone navigation system with data automatically streamed to the servers, as well as instantaneous data processing and reporting capabilities. Automating the system will deliver immediate results to local operators at the facilities and increase the number of flights.In addition to the detection campaign at their operated sites, they are in advanced discussions with certain operators of our non-operated assets to make this technology available to them and carry out targeted detection campaigns on these assets.Moving towards zero methaneBetween 2010 and 2020, TotalEnergies halved its methane emissions by spearheading an action program targeting each of the emission sources at our assets (flaring, venting, fugitive emissions and incomplete combustion) and reinforcing the design criteria for its new facilities. To go even further, they are committed to a 50% reduction in their methane emissions by 2025 and 80% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.These targets cover all the Companys operated assets and go beyond the 75% reduction in methane emissions from coal, oil and gas between 2020 and 2030 outlined in the IEAs Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario.The post Green Connection, Fishers vs TotalEnergies AUSEA Technology' first appeared on IT News Africa | Business Technology, Telecoms and Startup News.
Click here to read full news..
