OGCI and OGDC: from ambition to action

As of August 2026, the Charter has 56 signatories representing a diverse mix of state-owned and independent companies with assets in 100+ countries, and which produce around 45% of global oil. By signing the Charter, participating companies share an ambition of working toward net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from operations under their control by or before 2050, near-zero Upstream methane emissions by 2030, and zero routine flaring by 2030. Signatories also aim to publicly disclose their emissions performance and 2030 Scope 1 and Scope 2 ambitions. Through these shared ambitions, OGDC extends the reach of the industry’s lower-emissions efforts and supports the wider adoption of technologies, practices, and reporting standards.

Today, OGCI acts as Secretariat to OGDC and shares its technical expertise and support to OGDC signatories. OGDC leaders, including Aramco, additionally provide mentoring programs, expert advice, and tailored support — such as engaging third-party verifiers to independently assess emissions data of National Oil Companies (NOCs) and identify gaps and improvements. Collaborations with OGCI, including joint satellite use for monitoring methane emissions, have contributed towards OGDC signatories achieving improved emissions reductions.

Aiming for near-zero methane emissions

Even as the reach of industry collaboration expanded through OGCI, methane remained one of the most urgent areas of focus for the energy industry. Therefore, in 2022, OGCI expanded its methane-reduction efforts by launching a new and separate initiative called the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative, calling on the oil and gas industry, including companies not part of the OGCI, to treat methane emissions with a similar seriousness to safety. This initiative’s ambitions include near-zero methane emissions from operated assets and zero upstream routine flaring by 2030.

As of August 2026, the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative has attracted nearly 100 signatories, including private and state-run energy companies, as well as supporters such as service firms, technology providers, NGOs, and consultancies. Signatories have pledged to implement all reasonable measures, including innovative solutions, to prevent methane venting and flaring, repair detected leaks, report their annual methane emissions transparently, and support robust methane regulations.

This initiative builds on OGCI’s existing efforts to address methane emissions. OGCI’s Satellite Monitoring Campaign (SMC) is a flagship initiative designed to detect, quantify, and help reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations worldwide. Launched in 2021, the campaign promotes the use of high-resolution satellite technology to identify some emission sources and works directly with operators to abate methane emissions by providing technical support.

In 2025, OGCI launched the Methane Library, a centralized, free, and updated repository containing over 300 resources to help oil and gas companies measure, report, and reduce emissions. The digital library includes up-to-date information on detection methods, tools for quantifying and assessing emissions, guidelines and proven industry best practices, and regulatory frameworks.

Aramco’s journey and impact

As a founding member of OGCI, and with Aramco President & CEO, Amin Nasser, serving as one of the three CEO Champions of OGDC, our proactive engagement has supported innovative research and the advancement of lower-carbon technologies such as bio-based marine fuels, lower-carbon aviation fuels (LCAF), and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). We also support OGCI’s Carbon Accounting Initiative, which is researching possible standardized methods for measuring, verifying, and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, carbon intensity, and methane metrics across oil and gas operations.

Our efforts include reducing flaring and methane emissions across our operations while aiming to improve energy efficiency. These efforts support our ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across our wholly owned operated assets by 2050. Through our $1.5 billion Sustainability Fund, operated by Aramco Ventures, we are investing in technologies that support the energy transition, including direct air capture, hydrogen, and renewables. 

Our Upstream carbon intensity remains among the lowest compared with industry peers on a per-barrel-of-oil-equivalent basis. In 2025, it stood at 10.0 kilograms of CO2 per barrel of oil equivalent.  This performance reflects an approach that combines careful reservoir management with energy efficiency, technology deployment, and targeted programs to manage methane emissions and flaring.

Below ground, advanced reservoir modeling, well-placement technologies, and optimized drilling routes help limit the production of unwanted associated water. This reduces the energy required — and the emissions generated — to lift, treat, and reinject that water.

Above ground, we focus on using energy more efficiently and reducing emissions from production facilities. Measures include energy-management systems, cogeneration, more efficient equipment, and flare gas recovery systems that capture gases that might otherwise be flared and direct them toward productive use.

Methane is addressed through an approach that combines prevention, monitoring, detection, and repair. In 2025, we maintained an Upstream methane intensity of 0.04%, contributing to achieving OGCI’s collective 2025 ambition of ‘well below 0.20%.’ Alongside field-based programs, we partner with technology companies to deploy satellites capable of detecting and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from point sources as small as individual oil and gas wells.