Making the Case for Gas before the United Nations’ Commission for Europe

During the 12th session of the Group of Experts on Gas that took place on 25 March 2025, Andrea Stegher – the Vice President of the International Gas Union (IGU) - presented the IGU’s views on the role of natural gas in the energy transition and in building resilient systems.

Part of the Committee on Sustainable Energy of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the Group of Experts on Gas (GEG) supports UNECE member States deliver on key political commitments, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and global agreements on climate change.

In his intervention before the GEG, Stegher argued the criticality of Gas for human progress and global growth: “Natural gas plays a crucial role in meeting the world’s rising energy demands, while adapting to evolving technological and geopolitical landscapes such as, for instance, meeting an increasing electricity demand, particularly from emerging sectors like data centres and artificial intelligence (AI).

Globally, and not just in Europe, natural gas is a fundamental component of any pragmatic long-term national and regional energy strategies, given its flexibility in balancing the demands of technological progress, infrastructure expansion, and sustainable energy policies.”

As the energy supply-demand balance is still fragile and the global energy demand is continuously growing, it is fundamental to rely on existing and viable energy solutions like Gas for any sustainable evolution.

To substantiate this point, Stegher highlighted the fact that “System resilience and source reliability – in all their forms – play a pivotal role in the transition to lower-carbon futures. Market players are investing to increase Gas supply (especially in the form of LNG), expand the Gas infrastructure and increase the role of renewable and low-carbon gas solutions. It is essential that national and regional policies recognise the role of Gas in providing secure energy to meet people’s needs.”