While Methane (CH4) is the second most prevalent anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) after carbon dioxide (CO2) the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the former is 28-34 times higher than that of the latter. Coal mining is a major source of methane emissions accounting for about 12% of global total anthropogenic emissions of that gas. Most emissions come from underground working mines but those from abandoned mines are raising. Action on methane requires a solid understanding of emission sources at national subnational and local levels. Only with reliable emissions data can policymakers design effective GHG policies evaluate mitigation opportunities and comply with their international climate commitments. National monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) programs can not only help countries better understand the contribution of coal mining to their overall methane and GHG emissions but also identify opportunities for mitigation. In particular MRV can help assess and track the effectiveness of the adopted climate policies. Setting up efficient MRV schemes is also important to deliver on international climate commitments in the context of the Paris Agreement.

The United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) is designed as a unifying framework for the integrated management of resources. UNRMS is based on the globally accepted United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) which has incorporated a unique methodology of assessing resources through the triple lenses of environmental-social-economic viability project feasibility and level of knowledge. It is a voluntary global standard for integrated resource management within the framework of public public-private and civil society partnerships and is uniformly applicable to all resources.

Oil and gas supplies will continue to play a key role in a future sustainable energy system to support economic growth and social progress even under a scenario in which stringent climate policies and measures are implemented. At the same time oil and gas industries are among the main sources of anthropogenic methane emissions. Methane is the primary component of natural gas with some emitted to the atmosphere during its production processing storage transmission distribution and use. Despite methane’s short residence time the fact that it has a much higher warming potential than CO2 and that its atmospheric volumes are continuously replenished make effective methane management a potentially important element in countries’ climate change mitigation strategies. This document provides guidance for developing and implementing effective monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) practices as well as for mitigating methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. In its discussion on MRV and mitigation opportunities it is meant to serve as a resource for a broad audience including owners and operators of oil and gas facilities and policymakers at all levels of government. It is intentionally “principles-based” recognizing that conditions vary greatly across oil and gas facilities and that legal political and institutional aspects differ by jurisdictions.

There is a strong medium-to-long-term future for gas so long as it wholeheartedly embraces the energy transition and partners with renewables to produce carbon-free products notably hydrogen whilst embracing carbon capture and storage (CCS). Gas has several key advantages. It is highly flexible and can be used for heating cooling cooking waste disposal and transportation as well as feedstock for chemicals fertilisers and pharmaceutical products. Moreover throughout most of the UNECE area there are already extensive distribution networks that enable gas to be transferred both across borders and within member states. These network can be adapted to carry hydrogen either mixed in with natural gas or as self-contained systems. They can also be used to distribute CO2.

Energy underpins the development of economies and most of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda). The energy sector plays a critical role in finding solutions for both sustainable development and climate change mitigation. Since the universal agreement on the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including the goal on sustainable energy SDG 7 in 2015 countries have commenced with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However at this stage there is a gap between the agreed energy and climate targets and the strategies and systems that are being put in place today to achieve them. Accelerated and more ambitious strategies and policies will be needed to fill the persistent gaps to achieve the 2030 Agenda and in particular energy will need to play an increasing role across various SDGs. If gaps are not addressed urgently more drastic and expensive action will be required to avoid extreme and potentially unrecoverable adaptation measures. Currently there are many different interpretations of what is “sustainable energy”. Countries in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) have not yet agreed on a collective pathway to achieve energy for sustainable development. For the ECE region there is an important opportunity to explore the implications of different sustainable energy pathways and to work together on developing and deploying policies and measures to attain the 2030 Agenda. This is why the Committee on Sustainable Energy (the Committee) initiated this flagship project “Pathways to Sustainable Energy” (the project). The objective of the project is the development of strategies and actions to ensure the attainment of sustainable energy in the ECE region . The project’s goal is to strengthen the knowledge and capacities of countries to develop implement and track national sustainable energy policies aligned with their commitments on climate change and sustainable development and to understand the objectives and actions of other countries. The project aims to contribute concretely to climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

This publication explores the progress in energy efficiency and renewable energy in selected countries of South-Eastern Europe Eastern Europe and Central Asia and in the Russian Federation. The study analyzes policy legislative and regulatory frameworks financial environment and level of awareness in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy from 2010 to the present. It also identifies the existing gaps at the required frameworks and environment to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in the countries. This study is intended to support countries in their ongoing efforts towards improving energy efficiency and building a strong renewable energy base. It proposes a set of recommendations for necessary steps in achieving the long-term objectives for energy mix and meeting the ambitious related targets set by the countries.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been used as fuel for ships for decades but quality standards are still under development. The UNECE Group of Experts on Gas created in 2015 a task force on removing barriers to the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. This report summarises the findings to date on the main barriers to the use of gas in maritime transportation. It considered not only gas-fuelled ships but the supply chain as well. The report demonstrates that in order to allow the use of LNG as marine fuel to grow six key enablers need to be in place: 1) easy access to LNG 2) reliable and safe logistics 3) legal certainty 4) favourable investment climate 5) competence knowledge and skills and 6) public acceptance.

The electricity sector is rapidly changing. Faced with the challenge of climate change coal consumption is declining. Policy designs focus on raising the penetration of renewable energy. However there are still drawbacks that prevent renewable energy from being adopted at industrial scale. It is therefore increasingly important for the policy makers to identify ways to leverage the benefits of renewable energy and at the same time preserve the availability affordability and reliability of electricity. Several studies have explored the possibility of coordinating fossil fuel fired power plants with renewable energy. This report presents several options for the northern hemisphere.

Energy efficiency is widely viewed as one of the most effective ways to achieve multiple economic social and environmental benefits and is at a core of making significant progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. This publication presents the outcome of a survey among the energy efficiency practitioners on the challenges and solutions for overcoming barriers to energy efficiency investments. The primary geographic focus is the UNECE region comprising 56 member States from Western Europe (members and non-members of the European Union) North America (Canada and the United States) South-East Europe Eastern Europe the Caucasus Central Asia Israel Turkey and the Russian Federation. This is a joint effort by the UNECE and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency. The analysis of the survey and its conclusions and recommendations will serve as a useful tool for energy efficiency community. Policy makers can apply the results to the situation in their countries and find approaches to improve investment climate for energy efficiency.

This is the second edition of the Best Policy Practices for Promoting Energy Efficiency publication prepared in the framework of the United Nations Development Account project “Promoting Energy Efficiency Investments for Climate Change Mitigation and Sustainable Development”. It provides additional exemplars of the best policy practices for promoting energy efficiency in UNECE region and beyond. The objective of the publication is to present a structured framework of policies and measures to promote energy efficiency investments for climate change mitigation and sustainable development as well as to develop a menu of energy efficiency policies and measures.