Legacy leaks, lasting liabilities: elevating abandoned oil and gas wells in climate change mitigation policy

This article examines abandoned oil and gas wells as a persistent and under-addressed source of methane emissions and environmental risk. It reviews their climate impact, associated health and safety hazards, and the gaps in national and global reporting frameworks. The article discusses recent advances in quantifying emissions from these wells and highlights the need for comprehensive inventories, improved monitoring and stronger regulatory approaches to address legacy leakage and long-term remediation.