Japan’s METI and international partners have launched a collaborative effort to accelerate the reduction of emissions across the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain through enhanced transparency, technology development, and standardized verification.
In particular, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI), together with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and several international organizations, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (UNEP’s IMEO), the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL), the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and the methane emissions certification body MiQ, have jointly issued a statement to accelerate the reduction of emissions across the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain.
This collaborative effort, supported by the Government of Canada, is an extension of the 2023 launch of the Coalition for LNG Emission Abatement toward Net-zero (CLEAN initiative), a voluntary partnership between LNG producers and buyers designed to promote transparency and emission-reduction best practices.
The statement emphasizes the need for international cooperation to reduce emissions throughout the LNG value chain and outlines ongoing work to develop a roadmap for low-carbon LNG. As part of this, METI and the IEA began a two-year program in 2024 focused on gas security and technology deployment, with the IEA releasing a comprehensive report on LNG-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and abatement strategies. The parties also plan to establish a verification mechanism for emissions reduction based on existing global standards.
Further voluntary efforts include a joint initiative between METI and GIIGNL to create a framework for reporting and reducing GHG emissions, potentially incorporating carbon offsets. METI and MiQ are collaborating to verify high-tier methane emissions data (OGMP 2.0 Level 5) across Japan’s LNG import chains, which may also lead to certified low-methane LNG offerings.
Additionally, METI and JOGMEC, in partnership with UNEP’s IMEO, are working toward harmonized, project-level methane emissions data disclosure, promoting greater transparency and accountability in the global LNG supply chain.
