Joint Statement on Accelerating Methane Mitigation from the LNG Value Chain

On August 16^th, 2023, Australia, Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Chinese Taipei, and the United States (the Participants) met through their representatives, Ambassador Kevin Rudd of Australia, Director General Rachel McCormick of Canada, Minister Diego Pardow of Chile, Minister Arifin Tasrif of Indonesia, State Minister Fusae Ota of Japan, Deputy Minister Young-ghil Cheon of the Republic of Korea, Minister Megan Woods of New Zealand, Vice Minister Thomas Opa of Papua New Guinea, Minister Oscar Vera of Peru, Minister Mei-Hua Wang of Chinese Taipei, and Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm of the United States, on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ and Ministerial Meetings in Seattle, Washington (United States).

Recognizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the natural gas and LNG value chain for global climate actions to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Participants endeavor to collaborate on reducing GHG emissions, particularly of methane, across LNG imports and exports. The Participants reiterated their commitment to the Global Methane Pledge, led by the United States and the European Union and launched at COP26 in November 2021, and expressed their determination to continue their cooperation to achieve the goals and objectives of the Global Methane Pledge inclusive of achieving reductions of methane emissions in the fossil energy sectors consistent with reducing global anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030 from 2020 levels, while agreeing on the importance of cooperative action to achieve the goals.

The Participants affirmed the importance of robust measurement; monitoring, reporting, and verification; and transparency for methane emissions data in the fossil energy sector. The Participants affirmed that they intend to utilize independent analysis by international organizations such as the International Energy Agency and the International Methane Emissions Observatory and movement toward highest tier IPCC methods for emissions quantification including through the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework and reporting requirements.

The Participants affirmed their support for the creation of an internationally aligned voluntary approach for the measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of GHG emissions across the international supply chain for natural gas.

The Participants expressed their strong support for accelerated methane reduction in the LNG value chain by both public and private stakeholders and resolved to advance further methane reduction associated with LNG value chain.

The Participants reiterated their commitment to support international public-private coordination on GHG reduction across the LNG value chain, especially on methane, and to work with LNG producers and consumers globally. The Participants called on other countries, organizations, and private sector LNG producers and consumers to strengthen their efforts on GHG reduction across the LNG value chain.