Time for the oil industry to snuff out its flares

The World Bank reckons the 16,000 flares worldwide produce around 350m tonnes of CO₂ each year, causing untold harm

The emission of air pollution from traffic in our cities is the last step for a fuel that produces air pollution at every stage of production, often starting with flaring at a distant oil well. The World Bank estimates that the 16,000 flares worldwide produce around 350m tonnes of CO₂ each year.

Black carbon from sooty flames adds to the problems, especially across the northern hemisphere where it darkens arctic and mountain snow encouraging melting. The flared gas is also a wasted resource.