IGU’s Manifesto

It gives us great pleasure to introduce to you the Manifesto of the International Gas Union (IGU), at such a critical and uncertain time in the evolution and transition of the global energy industry towards decarbonisation.

In promoting ‘Gas’, the IGU fully embraces the potential of natural gas, LNG, low-carbon, decarbonised and renewable gases (including hydrogen, biomethane, synthetic gas, e-methane) to drive an even deeper decarbonisation of the energy system.

Gas supply, storage and infrastructure investments must happen in parallel with accelerated investment in renewable and low carbon gas, and CCUS technologies must be ramped up by orders of magnitude to be consistent with the climate targets. Only then can we ensure that the priorities of energy security and energy transition do not undermine each other.

As 2024 comes to an end, it is obvious that the energy choices and technologies outside the OECD member states will decide the future global carbon budget as these are home for 83.1% of the world’s population. As the spokesperson of the global gas industry, IGU firmly believes that the energy transition needs to be, first and foremost, a just transition – one that is fully adapted and adaptable to each country’s needs and energy consumption profile.

Given their resilience, Gas and its vast infrastructure support renewables deployment, serving as critical, flexible and dispatchable sources to tackle intermittency and enhance grid stability.

As a poverty-alleviation platform for underdeveloped and developing economies, from clean cooking to national industries, Gas would allow these economies to scale rapidly to meet their geographical and social potential, using an energy source much cleaner and more sustainable than coal or wood, ensuring that wild and endangered habitats remain protected.

By simply switching from coal to Gas, the reduction in CO₂ emissions can be dramatic. IGU is therefore committed to working with its members and undertaking the necessary efforts – at national, regional and international levels – so that legislators have an informed, evidence-backed view on the often-conflicting realities of energy sustainability and energy security. In addition, IGU encourages all its members to step up their decarbonisation efforts, including adopting a zero-methane emissions culture.

Published on December 9, 2024 Download PDF (5 MB)