Japan Bolsters International Effort to Cut Methane Emissions from LNG Supply Chain

(TOKYO) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, one of the world’s leading energy importers, today announced strengthened efforts to increase transparency across the liquefied natural gas supply chain and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Backed by the Canadian Government, Environmental Defense Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory and other key partners, the announcement builds on actions by the ‘Coalition for LNG Emission Abatement toward Net-zero’ (CLEAN initiative). The CLEAN initiative aims to enhance transparency of LNG-related emissions and encourage LNG producers to improve emissions performance management practices. 

“It matters when buyers state their preferences for lower-carbon fuels. A growing number of producers are starting to compete on emissions performance, particularly low methane intensity gas, and the trend will only continue as efforts like this flourish across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. 

“Japan is in the vanguard of countries making methane transparency a core part of reducing emissions from the global LNG supply chain. This is one of the smartest, most practical steps the energy sector can take right now to cut climate pollution and secure gas supplies.   

“Satellite data plays an important role in providing the full picture of methane emissions from LNG production. Data from Japan’s forthcoming GOSAT-GW and MethaneSAT, for example, can help inform buyers’ purchasing decisions as they seek to balance the need for more secure, affordable and cleaner energy.

“Environmental Defense Fund has spent more than a decade advancing the science, tools and partnerships needed to make methane transparency possible — and this collaboration is a powerful reflection of that work. Through efforts like MethaneSAT and the CLEAN Initiative, Environmental Defense Fund is contributing to the ability of countries and companies to turn methane commitments into measurable progress.”   

-Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund

• This new collaboration strengthens Japan’s leadership with the CLEAN Initiative, a regional, buyer-led platform that is consolidating into a foundation for credible verification and scalable best practices across Asia’s LNG supply chain, with support from IMEO, the International Energy Agency, Environmental Defense Fund, and others. The Asia-Pacific region is central to the energy transition. Continued buyer leadership from countries like Japan offers a critical path to scale emission reductions and build a more resilient energy future.  
• Cutting methane is the fastest, most cost-effective way to slow the pace of global warming. While long-term climate goals require deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, reducing methane emissions in the near term is essential to limit the most extreme climate impacts and protect people and the planet.