Alliance Urges GHG Protocol to Categorize Biogas and RNG in Corporate Greenhouse Gas Inventories
The 'Let Green Gas Count' coalition, spearheaded by the American Biogas Council (ABC) and the World Biogas Association (WBA), is advocating for the recognition of market instruments for biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) in corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting within the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The push comes as investors closely monitor the outcome, with uncertainty in the stock market today regarding the counting of biogas purchases posing a significant risk to financing for new facilities. Without assurance that biogas purchases will be recognized, financing for new facilities remains risky, hindering national and corporate net-zero pathways. The coalition's proposal seeks to fill this gap by allowing the use of certified instruments, such as green gas certificates, in emissions reporting. This could provide a bridge for corporates looking to expand renewable gas use, influencing policy debates in the U.S., Europe, and beyond. The GHG Protocol, administered by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is under pressure to modernize its rules, reflecting a wider shift in climate governance where demand for precision in accounting is intensifying. The current version of the Protocol lacks clear rules on how to account for the purchase and use of green gases, creating a barrier to market growth, according to Patrick Serfass, executive director of the ABC. Charlotte Morton OBE, chief executive of the WBA, has echoed these sentiments, stating that the lack of guidance by the GHG Protocol on the use of market instruments has significantly slowed the growth of the biomethane industry. Biogas and RNG are two of the lowest carbon intensity energy sources available, but investment in projects that produce these fuels is currently thwarted by the lack of clear guidance on market instruments that recognize their carbon intensity. The biomethane industry, according to Charlotte Morton OBE, prevents particularly harmful methane emissions from organic wastes and is one of the few options for decarbonizing hard-to-decarbonize sectors. The lack of clarity in the GHG Protocol's rules has implications for corporates, as it makes it difficult for them to demonstrate progress in decarbonization strategies, attract green finance, and avoid accusations of overstating climate gains. If adopted, the coalition's recommendations could accelerate one of the few commercially available solutions for cutting methane emissions at scale. The adoption of these recommendations could unlock new investment, accelerate project development, and ensure renewable natural gas and biogas can be recognized for their full, science-based climate benefits, according to Serfass. The coalition's call for action underscores the urgency of addressing the current climate crisis and the need for clear, precise accounting rules to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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