More than 30 major industrial and utilities companies have joined forces in a coalition to urge the GHG Protocol to explicitly recognize market-based instruments for renewable gases, such as biogas, biomethane and renewable natural gas (RNG). Under the banner of the “Let Green Gas Count” campaign, they have published a joint letter ahead of COP30 calling on the accounting standard-setting body to accelerate its review and include certificate-based recognition in its upcoming revision.

The urgency stems from a perceived gap: the current GHG Protocol framework, used by about 97 % of the Fortune 500, does not clearly allow companies to claim credit for purchasing certified renewable gas or renewable-gas certificates. According to the coalition, this omission dampens investment and innovation in sectors where mitigation via renewable gas is among the few viable decarbonization routes, for example heavy industry, transport and off-grid heat.

Signatories span diverse sectors: steel manufacturing, heavy-duty vehicles, food & beverage, and utilities. They argue that in many “hard-to-abate” industries the lack of clarity is a key barrier: one example being a major steel firm stating that biomethane could play a “big part” in decarbonizing its operations, provided the accounting and recognition frameworks support its uptake. Similarly, a truck-maker emphasized that recognition of renewable-gas certificates could accelerate decarbonization of both manufacturing and transport operations.

The timing is critical: the GHG Protocol is scheduled for a major revision in or by 2028. However, the industry-backed letter calls for an interim statement recognizing renewable-gas certificates and a faster review timeline to provide immediate clarity and market confidence. They argue this is especially important given the host nation of COP30 Brazil has pledged to scale up renewable fuel including gases, aligning with the coalition’s call. Moreover, global policy momentum is growing, e.g., the International Energy Agency notes strong policy support for biogas and biomethane globally, yet only about 5 % of the sustainable potential is being realized.

In conclusion, this major industry mobilization signals that for renewable gases to play their full role in the energy transition, accounting standards must evolve. By pressuring the GHG Protocol now rather than later, the coalition aims to remove a structural barrier to deployment. The outcome could shape how businesses report emissions, what fuels they invest in, and how fast hard-to-abate sectors decarbonize in the lead-up to COP30 and beyond.

Source:

https://esgnews.com/global-industry-leaders-urge-ghg-protocol-to-recognize-renewable-gas-certificates-ahead-of-cop30/