Yesterday, October 3rd, 2024, IGU’s Director of Strategy and Advocacy, Mr Mark McCrory, spoke at the “Advancing Global Methane Reduction Impact Event” – part of Baku Climate Action Week.
This event brought Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency team together with industry, policy makers and NGOs to discuss the role of technology, policy and finance in driving methane abatement in the oil & gas industry.
Mark detailed IGU’s strong historic focus on methane as a key factor in strengthening the economic and environmental case for gas, the commitment of many IGU members to reducing methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 and to operating with near-zero leaks.
IGU’s unparalleled geographic scope and reach across the gas value chain was acknowledged by the panellists, as IGU provides the global gas industry with key opportunities to bring diverse parts of the gas industry together to share leading practices and informational resources, given that the big challenge of turning pledges into action means collaboration and partnerships, and these have to be extended beyond the traditional industry’s ‘first-movers’ on methane.
Mark also held 1-2-1 meetings with IGU members Socar, Petronas and BP, as well as with participating industry associations, international finance bodies, academics and NGOs. These discussions focussed on how IGU might best use its global reach, upcoming flagship events and publications to leverage the existing innovative solutions and technologies available, and disseminate the latest developments on methane abatement technology, financing and regulation– including by holding a dedicated methane side-event with the World Bank as part of the 2025 World Gas Conference taking place in May 2025 in Beijing.