Background

Almost three years after the signing of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, the debate about decarbonisation of the economy is expected to intensify in Brussels over the coming months.

The European Commission is due to publish its long-term decarbonization strategy in November. In July, it already hosted a big stakeholder conference on the same topic. A consultation seeking stakeholder input is currently ongoing.

At the same time, as part of the Clean Energy Package, member states are now committed to develop national energy and climate plans. The first drafts will need to be ready by the end of this year with final version due end 2019.

On the path to a low carbon economy over the next couple of decades, fossil energy will continue to be part of Europe’s energy mix. The question is: to what extent – and which fossil fuels?

The gas industry argues that due to its relatively low CO2 footprint, natural gas can help achieve
increasingly ambitious climate targets, while ensuring security of supply. But what the role of gas should look like exactly is not clear.

In this context, it is now a good time to discuss what role natural gas can play to help the EU achieve its climate targets.

Questions to be discussed:

• How could gas contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions? What is likely to be the share of gas in the European energy mix out to 2050 in light of the EU’s climate targets?
• What is the likely future role of gas in: power generation, heating, industrial processes, transport?
• What are the infrastructure needs in light of the expected role of gas in the EU?
• How does gas feature in the climate strategies of countries outside of the EU and how will it feature in global climate negotiations at the upcoming UN climate convention in Katowice, Poland?

Speakers

Paul Corcoran – Nord Stream 2 AG

Chief Financial Officer with Nord Stream 2 AG and the former Financial Director at Nord Stream AG.

Simon Blakey – IHS Markit

Senior Associate with IHS Markit, and MD of SAB Global Energy. Founder of the European natural gas and power research practices at CERA (now IHS Markit) for 20 years from 1989; undertaking over 100 research and consulting assignments that covered a broad range of strategic issues for energy companies worldwide. From 2010 to June 2014 Simon acted as Special Envoy for EUROGAS, the association of European gas companies. He holds an MA from Cambridge University.

Martin Lambert – Oxford Institute of Energy Studies

Martin leads the research on biomethane and other renewable gas at OIES.  Since leaving Shell in 2016, in addition to his work with the Institute, he works as an independent consultant specialising in the international gas and LNG business. Martin’s 34 year career with Shell included several senior leadership positions in the gas, LNG and biofuels businesses. He holds an MA in economics and engineering from the University of Cambridge.

Valentin Höhn – International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers

Valentin Höhn has been active in IFIEC Europe for almost 8 years. In parallel he is working for IFIECs German member association VIK. In 2018 he became Chair of IFIEC´s Working Party Gas, having been its Rapporteur since 2013. Before joining the industrial consumer side, he worked as a consultant in the energy sector.

Jonathan Gaventa – E3G

Director of E3G, a climate and energy thinktank. He leads E3G’s work on EU policy, with a particular focus on gas and electricity infrastructure, long-term decarbonisation and the politics of climate and energy governance. Before joining E3G in 2009, Jonathan worked on sustainable development policy for the Greater London Authority, and for a transport NGO. He is based in Brussels.

Moderator

Sonja van Renssen – Energy Post

EU correspondent for Energy Post.