© ACS Significant economic and environmental gains can be achieved by applying Best Available Technology in the oil sector in the Arctic 25 June 2020ClimateRecommendationsArctic Contaminants Action ProgramPromotion of Decreased Pollution in the Arctic Region with the Introduction of Best Available Techniques (BAT) The Arctic Council’s Arctic Contaminant Action Program (ACAP) has completed a study on flaring of associated petroleum gas in the Russian Arctic. The report shows that significant economic and environmental gains can be achieved if Best Available Technology (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) are applied. Application of BAT and BEP may decrease the volume of short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) emissions from the current 25 to 7 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalents by 2025 in the Russian Arctic region. Industrial processes such as oil production generate gas as a byproduct (also called Associated Petroleum Gas; APG), with the potent climate gas methane as a major component. A common way of eliminating this is by flaring, where the unwanted gas is burned off, even if solutions exist to avoid this. This practice, however, is controversial as it has shown to be a major environmental concern causing emissions of, for example, black carbon. The Arctic Council’s Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) Working Group has indicated that flaring is one of the most important sources of black carbon emissions from Arctic States and that emissions that are released close to the Arctic have the strongest effect on sea ice melting. A significant share of emissions stem from oil and gas operations in the Arctic. The knowledge and awareness about the climate risks and abatement opportunities for black carbon emissions are still developing. At the same time, it is recognized that flaring of APG represents a resource waste which often can be rectified without causing net costs. Closing the knowledge gap and spurring action requires dialogue and cooperation with oil companies. Without this, access to information will be difficult and policies and regulations will typically lack effectiveness.