Message from the President and Secretary General

Message from the President and the Secretary General

x  David Carroll, President

and Pål Rasmussen, Secretary General.

Dear Colleagues

Welcome to this edition of the IGU magazine. We hope that your 2016 is off to a great start.

Your IGU leadership team remains hard at work advocating for gas as a critical part of the world’s energy portfolio. At the same time, we are working hard to ensure that the value to IGU membership continues to increase.

An example of the advocacy efforts was IGU’s presence at COP 21 in Paris last December. As world leaders gathered in Paris to discuss plans for mitigating the effects of climate change, IGU was there and actively engaged. We clearly see the need to reduce the carbon intensity of energy in the future, and natural gas is well positioned to make a significant contribution towards this. Natural gas stands apart from the other fossil fuels in view of its

environmental attributes, the high levels of efficiency when converted to heat and power, to the flexibility it offers in partnership with renewable energies, to the transport sector and its role as an important feedstock fuel in the chemicals and fertilizer industries.

But we also believe strongly that more needs to be done today to improve the health and wellbeing of our fellow citizens. Poor air quality, laced with toxins and particulates, is a major contributor to millions of premature deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization. The combustion of solid fuels, such as coal and charcoal, in addition to diesel, are major contributors to poor air quality.

During COP 21, we released a report entitled Case Studies in Improving Urban Air Quality that demonstrates the role of gas in improving the air quality in megacities around the world. The report featured real examples from Toronto, Istanbul, New York and Beijing. In each case, increased gas use has led to a measurable improvement in air quality.

We featured this report in an outreach campaign, with a floor presentation by your Secretary General, numerous press interviews, a web posting, and a featured story in the Financial Times web and print editions that stressed the gas industry’s commitment to cleaning the air. A positive message and an excellent example of effective advocacy at work.

We unveiled a revamped Council meeting format last October in Cartagena, Colombia, a format that allowed for more discussion of strategic issues, a greater understanding of local industry trends and market conditions, and ample time for member networking. We owe a big “muchas gracias” to our host

Eduardo Pizano of the Colombian Gas Association and his team and sponsors for a memorable and productive week in Cartagena.

We’ve also launched two important new initiatives to reach new important stakeholder groups – the Global Ambassador Network, to reach and tell our industry’s story to government officials and policymakers, and the Financial Advisory Board, to closely engage the institutions that finance infrastructure build out and commercial transactions. More to come on these important initiatives in future issues.

As far as this triennium’s work plan, committee work is off and running. Plans are in place to address important global topics, aligned with the IGU’s strategy and advocacy priorities.

We’re fortunate to have a group of outstanding committee leaders, backed up by solid teams of IGU professionals. But we need even more of your experience and energy to build the future of our industry. Help us make a difference – sign up and join your colleagues, now!

So where are we today? Lots of action, lots of change, substantial engagement with members and partners, and one high-impact outreach campaign completed, with more

planned. This is what we promised – this is what we’re delivering.

Why the hurry? Because we believe that the time for gas is now – the post COP 21 energy transition is underway in 200 countries. Gas should be a critical part of our future energy mix – and we aim to make that happen.

Looking forward to seeing you at LNG 18.

With best regards,

David and Pål

cz  The revised Council

meeting format launched in Cartagena was a great success, providing not only fruitful discussion, local insight and networking opportunities but also a taste of the richness of Colombian culture.