A multi-scalar assessment of global gas flaring: Implications for the management and development of inclusive gas flaring policies and the energy transition

Gas flaring is a major complex environmental concern that needs to be understood as a whole system if it is to meet targets of zero routine flaring by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. Achieving these targets depends significantly on effective policies, regulations, and inclusive participation of all gas-flaring stakeholders at all levels. However, the current understanding of global gas flaring challenges is fragmented. This thesis aims to integrate multilevel governance, policy coherence, good governance, and energy justice to analyse global gas flaring issues and optimise policy solutions and regulations to stimulate progress towards targets of zero routine flaring by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. It considers options that encompass fairness and equity while supporting the energy transition. The objectives are to: 1) reconceptualise and enhance theories linked to global gas flaring by proposing a new perspective on global gas flaring issues. 2) analyse Nigeria's multilevel governance system and assess the policy coherence across gas flaring and energy sectors, 3) analyse the emergent perspectives on energy justice and global gas flaring and evaluate how agreement and disagreement among these views contribute to developing equitable and inclusive gas flaring policies and regulations, and 4) evaluate stakeholder preferences for different policies and regulatory options, determining the most optimised and effective to help eliminate routine gas-flaring by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 whilst addressing good governance, justice, and fair implementation. The research uses mixed methods combining document analysis, semi-structured interviews, exit interviews, and expert surveys with representatives of 16 major gas flaring-affected countries (n=74). Interviews and surveys used purposeful snowball sampling. Findings showed: 1) a singular approach is ineffective, and a whole systems approach is needed to improve the overall gas flaring system; 2) policy coherence around gas flaring, including efforts toward climate change mitigation, has been slowed by political partisanship, poor governance, lack of regulatory compliance, and policy conflict between environmental protection and economic development priorities., 3) global stakeholders support zero-flaring, multi-scalar governance, and egalitarian rights-based approaches but have competing views on the practical mechanisms to achieve just outcomes, and 4) full implementation of gas flaring policies and regulatory framework criteria to limit temperature warming to 1.5°C, is considered the most effective policy alternative. Governments should take responsibility and implement bold and consistent gas flaring policies. However, meeting zero routine flaring and net zero emissions targets also requires a global approach to supplement national initiatives.