Royal Dutch Shell plc on Monday said it is targeting a methane emissions intensity by 2025 of below 0.2% for all of the global oil and natural gas assets it operates.

“This methane target complements Shell’s ambition to cut the net carbon footprint of our energy products by around half by 2050, which we announced in November 2017,” said Shell’s Maarten Wetselaar, who directs the integrated gas and new energies division.

“It is a further demonstration of our continued focus on tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Such efforts are a critical part of Shell’s strategy to thrive during the global energy transition by providing more and cleaner energy.”

Like other global producers, Shell has been boosting its natural gas holdings and alternative energy projects in part to reduce its carbon footprint.

Trading arm Shell Energy North America was ranked No. 4 in NGI’s top gas marketers list for the second quarter, with volumes up 1% year/year (y/y) at 9.4 Bcf/d. During 3Q2018, Shell’s integrated gas profits, including the liquefied natural gas business, climbed y/y to $2.305 billion from nearly $1.17 billion.

To maintain its targets, Shell plans to use infrared cameras to scan for methane emissions, deploy advanced technology to repair leaks and replace high-bleed pneumatically operated controllers with low emission alternatives.

Shell management said it recognizes that there is uncertainty with measuring methane emissions.

“This is an industry-wide issue, and we need to fix this fast,” said Wetselaar. “We must get a much more accurate understanding of how much we are emitting.”

The target for methane, which has a higher impact on global warming than carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere, would be measured against a baseline Shell leak rate, which is estimated now at 0.01-0.8% across all of its oil and gas assets.

“Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, but it has a relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere,” said United Nation Environment’s Mark Radka, who heads the energy and climate branch. ”That means reducing methane emissions brings immediate climate benefits, buying some time while we work out longer term solutions.

“This commitment by Shell is encouraging in itself but also because of the signals it sends to the rest of the industry.”

Shell is involved in a range of initiatives to reduce the emissions intensity of methane throughout the full supply chain from production to the final consumer. Last year, Shell joined ExxonMobil Corp., BP plc and other Big Oil majors in signing a set of guiding principles to methane emissions across the natural gas value chain. The principles have since been signed by 16 companies.

Last December, the American Petroleum Institute and 26 producers, including Shell, partnered to accelerate environmental performance in their U.S. onshore operations, focusing initially on reducing methane and volatile organic compound emissions. Participating companies, which also included BP, Chevron Corp. and Pioneer Natural Resources Co., began implementing the voluntary program in January. A report card on the program is scheduled to be released in 2019.

BP set its first quantitative methane targets in April, while ExxonMobil in May committed to cut its emissions and flared gas volumes from its onshore-focused subsidiary, XTO Energy Inc.

Oil and gas producers, including Shell, are also part of the World Bank-sponsored Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership, which developed the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative.