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Measurement-based differentiation of low-emission global natural gas supply chains

A differentiated natural gas market is emerging as a key mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across global natural gas supply chains. Trust in such voluntary markets across civil society, industry and governments depends on a transparent framework for reporting independently verifiable and accurate emissions data.

Energy and commodities markets globally have been transformed as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Europe’s sudden shift away from Russian natural gas supplies has resulted in a race for alternative sources and increased demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Concerns over energy security and affordability have led to a rapid buildup of infrastructure in Europe and Asia that can receive LNG, with exporters rushing to build liquefaction terminals to meet this changing market1. In parallel, growing concerns over the impacts of climate change from diverse stakeholders—national governments, investors, insurance firms and civil society—means that there is increased scrutiny of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in LNG supply chains2. A key question, therefore, is how governments can ensure that GHG emissions are minimized amid rising global trade in LNG.

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Fig. 1: Technical building blocks within a differentiated gas framework.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Emissions Modeling and Data Lab, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Arvind P. Ravikumar, Erin E. Tullos, David T. Allen, Robert Stout & Andrew J. Grimes

  2. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Arvind P. Ravikumar, Erin E. Tullos, David T. Allen, Robert Stout & Andrew J. Grimes

  3. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya

    Erin E. Tullos, Manfredi Caltagirone & Tania M. Fernandez

  4. Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC, USA

    Ben Cahill

  5. Environmental Defense Fund, New York, NY, USA

    Steven P. Hamburg

  6. Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Daniel Zimmerle

  7. Highwood Emissions Management, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Thomas A. Fox

  8. MiQ, London, UK

    Lara Owens

  9. Environmental and Energy Law Program, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Carrie Jenks

  10. Carbon Mapper, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Riley Duren

  11. University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ, USA

    Riley Duren

  12. Kayrros Inc, New York, NY, USA

    Antoine Halff

  13. Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Antoine Halff

  14. Payne Institute for Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA

    Morgan D. Bazilian

  15. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA

    Stefanie Rucker

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Arvind P. Ravikumar.

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Competing interests

The authors declare the following competing interests: A.P.R. is currently a member of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee of the US Department of Transportation; in this role, he is a Special Government Employee. A.P.R.’s research is currently supported by the US Department of Energy, Environmental Defense Fund, and sponsors of the Energy Emissions Modeling and Data Lab (EEMDL). E.E.T. has previously been employed by ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, ExxonMobil, GTI Energy, ChampionX and Validere. D.T.A. serves on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board; in this role, he is a paid Special Governmental Employee; D.T.A.’s research is currently supported by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Collaboratory to Advance Methane Science, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Pioneer Natural Resources, and the Environmental Defense Fund. He has also worked on air quality projects that have been supported by oil and gas producers and the Environmental Defense Fund. D.T.A. has worked as a consultant for multiple companies, including British Petroleum, Cheniere, Eastern Research Group, KeyLogic and SLR International. A.J.G. owns shares of individually purchased stocks in the energy companies Chevron, ExxonMobil, Williams, Southern Company, Valero Energy, Phillips 66 and Consolidated Edison, all of which are long-term holdings that were acquired prior to A.J.G. beginning employment with The University of Texas at Austin in August 2022 and at EEMDL in May 2023. L.O. is the Director of Science and Technology at MiQ, which is a not-for-profit certification programme. As part of the certification process, MiQ has contracted with a registry (Evident) to issue, track and retire methane emission attributes determined under the MiQ Standard for physical natural gas. MiQ receives a small percentage of the fees that Evident collects for their registry services. R.D. is CEO of the nonprofit organization Carbon Mapper, which collects data and provides science analysis on greenhouse gas emissions including programmes funded by government and philanthropic entities. T.A.F. is an owner of Highwood Emissions Management, which works with industry to manage emissions. All other authors have no competing interests.

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Ravikumar, A.P., Tullos, E.E., Allen, D.T. et al. Measurement-based differentiation of low-emission global natural gas supply chains.
Nat Energy (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01381-x

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  • Published: 02 November 2023

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