Oil Industry Gas Flaring Emits Hundreds of Millions of Tons of Carbon

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, reports that oil companies burned off 389 million tons worth of carbon through gas flaring in 2023, according to The Guardian. This widespread and often unnecessary practice—used to dispose of methane during oil extraction—contributes massively to carbon emissions. Though lawsuits have been filed against the industry, none have yet succeeded, leaving open the question of legal accountability for this environmental damage.