Ahead of COP30, 30 leading industrial and utilities companies around the world have joined coordinators of the Let Green Gas Count campaign (including ADBA, the American Biogas Council, EBA, eNG Coalition, Eurogas, Molecule Group, RNG Coalition, World Biogas Association) in call to the Green House Gas Protocol to explicitly recognize market-based instruments for renewable gases such as biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) in a joint letter. (RNG is referred to as biomethane outside North America.)
Due for revision by 2028, the GHG Protocol framework guiding 97% of the Fortune 500 does not explicitly allow companies to claim credit for purchasing green gas certificates among other tools, despite repeated calls from over 230 organizations.
The Brazilian COP Presidency recently pledged to boost production and use of renewable gases, issuing a call for greater global investment into these alternatives to reach Net Zero.
Leading European gas trade association and Let Green Gas Count coordinator Eurogas has called the GHG Protocol revision a prime opportunity to boost investor confidence in renewable gases.
The Let Green Gas Count campaign and industrial and utilities leaders specifically call for the GHG Protocol to issue an interim statement, back market-based certificates, and fast-track its review.
The GHG Protocol is the most widely used framework for greenhouse gas accounting in the world, meant to provide transparency to emissions measuring, managing and reporting. Policymakers and regulators across the globe refer to its guidance, as do 97% of the Fortune 500. With such influence, its revision could shape how industries cut emissions for years to come. However, the GHG Protocol has yet to respond to calls from over 200 industrial representatives in February 2025 to urgently revise standards in support of green gases.
The letter from industrial and utilities leaders aligns with the Brazilian COP Presidency’s recent pledge to quadruple production and use of renewable fuels, including gases, by 2035, and call for further investment into these alternatives as an essential tool for achieving Net Zero.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s 2025 Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane, policymakers around the world have introduced over 50 new policies to support biogas uptake since 2020. In the EU, renewable gases like biogas, RNG and e-methane are already recognized as having a vital role to play in decarbonizing the economy and supporting European security of supply. But despite consensus on their benefits, only around 5% of the total potential for sustainable production of biogas and RNG is currently being used.
The joint letter therefore calls for the upcoming GHG Protocol revision to boost investor confidence by explicitly recognizing market-based tools which incentivize producers and consumers to decarbonize. These include, for example, certification schemes, such as guarantees of origin or proof of sustainability certificates, which verify the environmental attributes and sustainability of energy sources.
Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council, the voice of the U.S. biogas industry, said: “Biogas is the ‘Swiss Army knife’ of renewable fuels—often carbon negative, always community positive, and vital for cutting emissions in industries that are hardest to decarbonize. Clearer guidance in the GHG Protocol is essential to help businesses and governments fully unlock its potential.”
Andreas Guth, Secretary General of Eurogas, a coordinator of the Let Green Gas Count campaign, said: “European industry needs GHG accounting standards that are fit for purpose and acknowledge renewable gases’ pivotal role in reducing industrial emissions. This review is a prime opportunity to bring the Protocol up-to-date and boost investor confidence in biogas, biomethane and derivatives around the world. We look forward to working with the GHG Protocol leadership to deliver a timely new framework that supports the global renewable fuels market, and ultimately supports a realistic global energy transition.”
Sector leaders have stressed that, unchanged, the Protocol risks holding back industries where electrification is not technically feasible, not cost-effective, or faces other bottlenecks such as grid congestion from meeting their climate goals.
Albert Kassies, Director of New Energy at Tata Steel Nederland, one of Europe’s biggest steel manufacturers and part of the global Tata Steel Group, said: “Our company strongly believes that biomethane can play a big part in decarbonizing steel and energy-intensive industries. Before this is the case some hurdles need to be taken down. Biomethane not being supported in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol is one of them. As decarbonization projects for hard-to-abate industries are long and complex, it is essential that enabling conditions for these projects are brought in place as soon as possible. That will enable our company to reach its decarbonization goals and help the world live up to the Paris Agreement.”
Maria Pia De Caro, EVP, Integrated Operations and S&R of Pernod Ricard, a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry, said: “Energy efficiency and electrification are central to our sustainability strategy. At the same time, we are exploring renewable energy solutions, with biomethane playing a key role, both as a renewable source and a way to close the loop by valorizing our by-products. Where direct biomethane delivery isn’t efficient, we will rely on Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) to ensure traceability and credibility. Clear guidance from the GHG Protocol will be essential to scale this approach globally.”
The truck manufacturing industry has also warned that RNG has a crucial role to play in cutting emissions both in production and of heavy-duty vehicles on the road.
“When the GHG Protocol recognizes renewable gas certificates, the market for renewable gases can grow more quickly, which will speed up the decarbonization of industrial operations and heavy truck transports,” says Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director at Volvo Trucks, a leading global truck-maker.
30 industry leaders from across different industries including the steel, spirits and wine, and heavy-duty trucks industry are therefore calling on the GHG Protocol to:
- Issue an interim statement recognizing the need for robust market-based instruments.
- Ensure that the review not only stays on track for completion in 2028 at the latest but is fast-tracked to reduce its impact on the market.
The 30 signatories include:
- Yannael BILLARD, Acting Director, Airport Planning, Sustainable Development and Public Affairs Division, ADP Group
- James Streater, General Manager and Head of Sustainable Development, Arcelor Mittal
- Christophe Pouille, CEO, Balsan
- Raffaele Ruella, CFO and Head of Corporate Services and Managing Director, Beltrame Group
- Thierry Quaranta, Directeur de la Transformation Durable, Carrefour Supply Chain
- Maïwenn Le Pierrès-Bullier, Director General, CERAFEL
- Elena Breda, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer, Electrolux Group
- Florence Colombo-Fouquet, Chief Sustainability Officer, Engie
- Rémi Cristoforetti, CEO, Le Gouessant
- Koki Hayakawa, Senior Managing Director and Secretary General, Japan Gas Association
- Norbert Audéoud, Global Head of Sustainability, Operational Excellence & Safety, Knauf
- Sylvestre Bertucelli, Directeur, Légumes de France
- Régis Chevallier, President, Les Maraichers Nantais
- Christine Montenegro McGrath, SVP, Chief Impact & Sustainability Officer, Mondelēz International
- Sandrine Meunier, Director General, Natran
- Benjamin Ware, Global Head of Climate, Nestlé S.A.
- Anna Chittum, President, NW Natural Renewables
- Tadashi Yamamoto, Deputy Senior General Manager, Energy Resources and Carbon Neutral Business Department, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
- Jose-Ramon Fernandez, European Public Affairs Director, Pernod Ricard
- Xavier Galliot, Chief Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Roquette
- Vincent Ferry, Managing Director, Save Energies
- Pierre-Yves JESTIN, Président, Coopérative Maraichère de l’Ouest – SAVÉOL
- Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Scania CV AB
- Carsten Franzke, Managing Director, COO, SKWP
- Albert Kassies, Direct of New Energy, Tata Steel Nederland
- Takeshi Kanamaru, Executive Officer / General Manager of Corporate Planning Department, TOHO GAS CO., LTD.
- Yuji Kobayashi, Senior General Manager, e-Methane Business Development Department, Green Transformation Company, Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
- Thomas Riou, CEO, Verescence
- Jan Hjelmgren, Senior Vice President Product Management, Volvo Trucks
- Biagio Costantini, CEO, Zignago Vetro
