Oil and Gas Methane Mitigation: Opportunities for Japan’s Decarbonization

Over the past year, Japan has stepped up its climate commitment on the international stage to cut the emissions of methane, a short-lived but powerful greenhouse gas. In November 2021, at COP26, Japan along with more than 100 countries signed the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels. In June 2022, Japan joined the GMP Energy Pathway as an inaugural member, and together with the EU pledged to provide technical and financial assistance in reducing oil and gas value chain methane footprints. Methane collaboration was also prominently featured in the Japan-US Leadership Announcement, in the strengthened Japan-US Clean Energy Partnership, and under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

At a time of global energy and climate crises, the role of gas in low-carbon transition and the importance of methane abatement for enhanced energy security and climate stability have become all the more critical for the world’s top LNG importer countries like Japan.

On October 20, 2022, the Environmental Defense Fund and IGES will sponsor a high-level in-person conference in Tokyo on the opportunities associated with the oil and gas methane mitigation for Japan’s decarbonization. The event will bring together senior government officials, industry and business leaders, policy advisors and international organizations to discuss global methane momentum, technology solutions, business opportunities, and how Japan can take the leadership on GMP Energy Pathway.