Australia has officially become a member of an international working group dedicated to measuring and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within global gas supply chains in a move to bolster emissions reduction integrity.
Acknowledging the vital role of gas in supporting electricity needs and supplying industrial heat, the government said the initiative seeks to balance the necessity of gas with the imperative to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals.
This includes recognising its importance in peaking and firming electricity in a growing renewable grid and supporting processes like manufacturing steel and critical minerals.
The international working group, named Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV) on gas supply chain emissions, brings together major gas producers along with significant importing nations such as Korea and Japan.
The collaborative approach emphasises prioritising measurement over modelled data wherever it enhances the accuracy and representativeness of reported information, offering market participants credible and verified data about emissions from production to delivery.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen expressed the government’s commitment to continually enhance greenhouse gas emissions reporting and transparency.
He highlighted the potential of the international working group to significantly improve emissions accounting throughout the entire supply chain.
“We are also doing our bit in Australia, with methane measurement referred to the Climate Change Authority for consideration in its review of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act,” Minister Bowen noted.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King underscored Australia’s dedication to lowering emissions and achieving net-zero targets by 2050, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
“The international working group will help Australia and the world better understand emissions from the global natural gas supply chain, from pre-production to export and final delivery,” she stated.
King added, “The work will ensure natural gas producers and exporters, importers, governments, end users and other key stakeholders will have accurate and verifiable information about GHG emissions from the LNG supply chain.”
The MMRV consists of members such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (Observer), European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
A detailed joint statement on the MMRV agreement is available on the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources website here.
