COP31 puts biogas and biomethane on the global climate agenda with international Declaration

Türkiye, 12 November 2026 – Türkiye launches the Biogas Declaration at COP31, calling on governments and stakeholders to turn the global potential of biogases into climate, energy and rural development action.

The Declaration was presented by Nevzat Şatıroğlu, Deputy Minister for Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye, during an official session held in the COP31 Blue Zone, with the participation of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the European Biogas Association (EBA). It was subsequently signed by Dr. Bilal Düzgün, Head of the Department of Energy Efficiency and Environment at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye. 

Open to endorsement by national governments, the Declaration calls for collective action to scale up the sustainable production and deployment of biogas and biomethane, recognising their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening energy security, improving organic waste management, and supporting rural economies and the circular economy. Beyond renewable gas, biogas systems can deliver dispatchable renewable electricity and heat, while producing valuable co-products such as organic fertilisers and biogenic CO₂.

The scale of the opportunity is significant. According to the International Energy Agency’s Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane, today’s sustainable global production potential for biogases is nearly 1,400 billion cubic metres equivalent by 2050, around one quarter of current global natural gas demand. 80% of this sustainable potential lies in emerging market and developing economies, underlining the global relevance of biogases to countries at very different stages of their energy transition.(1)

Biogas and biomethane offer a locally produced and reliable source of renewable energy, helping to strengthen energy resilience and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The Declaration also recognises their wider climate benefits. Under appropriate conditions, biogas and biomethane value chains can support carbon-negative pathways. They can also support nutrient recycling through the application of digestate on soils and provide biogenic CO₂ as a feedstock for sustainable fuels and other applications.

Yet despite strong growth, proven technologies and their contribution to defossilisation energy security and energy equity, biogas and biomethane remain significantly below their global potential. The Declaration therefore calls for stronger action to close the gap between available solutions and their deployment.

Among its priorities, the Declaration calls for stimulating demand, improving access to international finance, accelerating integration into natural gas and transport markets, strengthening emissions mitigation, standardising methodologies, and advancing certification systems.

Particular attention is given to the development of biogas in rural areas, where it can connect local renewable energy production with organic waste management, nutrient recycling, sustainable agriculture and new economic opportunities.

“The launch of the Biogas Declaration at COP31 sends an important signal: a proven and readily available solution with significant global potential needs to be more firmly integrated into international climate and energy action,” said Harmen Dekker, CEO of the EBA and Vice Chair of the UNECE Group of Experts on Gas. “Biogases connect GHG mitigation and energy security with circularity, sustainable agriculture and rural development. We encourage countries to recognise this opportunity, develop their national potential and support the Declaration.”

The Biogas Declaration will remain open for further endorsements following COP31, with UNECE Group of Experts on Gas supporting follow-up with governments and other stakeholders. Countries are encouraged to endorse the Declaration and translate its objectives into action according to their national circumstances. International outreach will continue towards COP32, where endorsers have committed to reconvene and take stock of progress.

1.IEA, Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane: A global geospatial analysis (2025)

Note for editors

About the European Biogas Association (EBA)

EBA fully believes in the future potential of renewable gas in Europe. Founded in 2009, the association is committed to the deployment of sustainable biogas and biomethane production and use throughout the continent. EBA counts today on a well-established network that represents over 8,000 stakeholders across Europe, including national associations, companies and research organisations covering the whole biogas and biomethane value chain.

About biogas and biomethane

Biogas is produced from the decomposition of organic materials. These residues are placed in a biogas digester in the absence of oxygen. With the help of a range of bacteria, organic matter breaks down, releasing a blend of gases: 45 – 85 vol% methane (CH4) and 25 – 50 vol% carbon dioxide (CO2). The output is a renewable gas which can be used for multiple applications.

Biomethane – purified biogas – is a renewable alternative to natural gas. Its multiple applications include heat and power supply for our buildings and industries, and renewable fuel production for the transport sector.

Produced from organic residues and sustainable biomass, biomethane delivers benefits well beyond renewable energy production. It contributes to industrial decarbonization and waste management, strengthens sustainable agriculture and rural economies, and generates valuable co-products such as organic fertilisers and biogenic CO₂, supporting Europe’s broader ambitions for resource efficiency, sustainability and strategic autonomy.

Contact

Angela Sainz Arnau, EBA Communications Director, sainz@europeanbiogas.eu