TotalEnergies Cuts Global Carbon Emissions by 2 to 3% in 2025

TotalEnergies released its annual sustainability report on Thursday, declaring a reduction in its global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2025. According to its own carbon accounting tables, the French oil and gas major estimates it lowered its direct and indirect emissions by 2 to 3% compared to 2024, depending on the calculation methods and perimeters applied. As the group has significantly redirected its investments toward liquefied natural gas (LNG), particularly in the United States, emission trends remain sharply divergent depending on the energy source.

A Carbon Footprint One-Quarter Larger Than France's Emissions

TotalEnergies puts its total footprint at 438 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) — or 451 MtCO2e depending on the perimeter used — a figure the company says amounts to roughly one-quarter more than all of France's emissions on its territory. The tally encompasses CO2 from the combustion of gasoline, kerosene, and gas sold by the group, as well as methane leaks from drilling operations or pipelines. Methane, the main molecule in natural gas, acts as a powerful greenhouse gas when released directly into the atmosphere.

The bulk of an oil major's carbon footprint comes from so-called indirect emissions, generated by customers burning fossil fuels — for their cars or home heating. These scope 3 emissions stood at 335 MtCO2e in 2024, down 2% from the prior year, according to data provided by the company. Direct emissions from extraction and production operations — whether or not TotalEnergies is the operator — are reported at 42 MtCO2e for 2025, a decline of 2.3% year-on-year.

Natural Gas: Emissions Doubled Over a Decade

Over ten years, emission trends diverge sharply by energy source. While oil-related emissions have declined, those linked to natural gas have doubled. TotalEnergies has invested heavily in LNG, particularly in the United States, making it a core strategic priority for the group. This orientation partly explains the diverging trajectory between the two hydrocarbon streams.

The group also argues that its reduced carbon footprint reflects investments in what it calls low-emission oil and gas projects, using less polluting production techniques. These claims are based on self-reported data from the group. TotalEnergies does not specify the respective contribution of each lever to the 2 to 3% overall reduction it claims.

Methane: 2025 Target Exceeded, Eyes on 2030

On methane, TotalEnergies says it exceeded its target of a 60% reduction versus the 2020 baseline in 2025. The group states it is now ahead of its trajectory toward an 80% reduction by 2030. These figures rely on the group's own declarations, whose carbon accounting methodology can vary depending on the perimeter applied — as illustrated by the 13 MtCO2e gap between the two total estimates published.