Welcome to the New Triennium! Welcome to Beijing 2025!
By Yalan Li, Incoming President of the IGU
Dear gas industry colleagues and partners in all corners of the world,
This week, at the conclusion of the 28th World Gas Conference, I will have the honour of accepting the IGU Presidency from Doctor Joe Kang. We will officially set on the journey from Daegu to Beijing, where the next WGC will take place. I would like to recognize Professor Kang for his unwavering leadership through a testing period for the IGU and to thank him for inspiring us all to build the next great chapter of the IGU together.
China is possibly the world’s best example of the many benefits of gas. Over the past decade, the growing penetration of gas in China made its skies blue, improved the health of its people, and fuelled many sectors of its economy to grow and prosper, sustainably. Now, as the world around us continues to move quickly, we are continuing to innovate and drive further reductions in emissions. One fact is certain — it was gas that made the air in Beijing clean again.
Having enjoyed the benefits of gas ourselves, the Chinese gas industry looks forward to sharing our experience and helping to maximize gas benefits around the world.
The Chinese triennium is starting at a critical juncture in global energy and gas markets, and the last four years have seen major changes unfolding in the world. The global energy transition has been gaining pace, and the gas industry finds itself today in a world of many challenges and opportunities.
Our new reality complex. In it, the energy transition and the urgent need to reduce emissions for mitigating climate change have become almost universally accepted by most global governments and many major private sector groups. More than 130 countries have either implemented or are considering some form of mid-century net-zero emissions target, and environmental and social responsibility became key factors for successful business practices in energy and beyond. Energy security took centre stage in the most prominent way on recent memory, and the challenge of energy security now joins the challenges of the energy transition.
This new reality will make it necessary to formulate new approaches – to innovate, to collaborate, and to communicate. In other words, it is also imperative for the gas industry to maximise its benefits to stay the course of the global energy transition.
The Chinese Presidency will lead the “Global Voice of Gas,” the only international representative body for the entire value chain of natural gas and the broader portfolio of gases, to continue seeking to champion their roles in enhancing energy security, energising the world, and achieving a just transition.
This brings me to the foundation of our Presidency and its vision: the Triennial Work Program, or TWP in short. The TWP 2022–2025 is a brand–new triennial work programme.
Through the TWP, the Chinese Presidency aims to:
(1) Transform previous reform achievements into stronger IGU advocacy performance and greater value for members;
(2) Streamline the IGU’s workflow for efficiency and cohesion;
(3) Continue the momentum of reform in preparation for the future
The TWP 2022–2025 both sets direction and defines actions for implementation. Topics covered by multiple committees are coordinated to reduce overlapping and facilitate comprehensive and in-depth debates. A multi-tiered external relations system is established to enhance flexibility and accessibility, encourage participation of IGU members, and enable targeted messages from the gas industry to its stakeholders. Regional Coordinators will be empowered to play a more important role in regional gas advocacy. The TWP aims at providing leadership in key topics of the gas industry.
The TWP 2022–2025 is ambitious in its scope and engagement. We aim at better service for members and engaging them in IGU’s work to the maximum extent, committed to “Maximising Gas Benefits”.
The blueprint is in place. Let’s work together to translate it into a reality—Maximising gas benefits, Bringing the IGU to new heights!
The Triennial Work Program
Themed Maximising Gas Benefits, the TWP 2022–2025 focuses on three pillars—Gas Industry, IGU Organisation, and IGU Membership, to reflect environmental changes driven by energy transition, climate change, net zero targets and lead the evolution of the IGU members’ focus and a broader concept of gases, to enable the IGU to best represent the voice of gas in the new context, and to facilitate the delivery of the IGU’s core missions in a future-oriented manner. The Chinese Presidency aims at better service for members and engaging them in IGU’s work to the maximum extent, and bring the IGU to new heights.
The Chinese Presidency has formulated the blueprint for the TWP 2022–2025 with contributions of the IGU family’ collective wisdom, including Prof. Joe Kang, the outgoing IGU President, the Secretariat, Regional Coordinators, members of the Executive Committee, Chairs of IGU Committees and members, who have provided valuable suggestions and support in the TWP drafting. Thanks to that, the TWP 2022–2025 is comprehensive and systematic.
The TWP has three Task Forces, established to cover key topics for the gas industry of the times—carbon neutrality, digitalisation, and strategic communication and outreach. Topics covered by multiple committees are coordinated to reduce overlapping and facilitate comprehensive and in-depth debates.
The TWP aims at providing leadership in key topics of the gas industry. The TWP will support efforts that facilitate relevant studies, lead dialogues and create consensus, so that we identify opportunities for adaptation and address emerging challenges. In short, the TWP reflects IGU’s continuous reform effort.
The TWP 2022–2025 has consolidated the work plans of all IGU working units including IGU Committees and Task Forces, secretariat, and presidency and national organising committees to form a single, integrated work programme for the IGU in the coming triennium. By engaging all the IGU working units to draft the TWP, the programme attempts to enhance the cohesion and coordination in its triennium work and tap the union’s potential to the maximum extent. Internally, it enables information flow, strengthens cooperation, and facilitates participation of members. Externally, it aims to bridge the gas industry and stakeholders.
All members of the IGU are welcome and encouraged to nominate their staff to work in the Committees.
This will be a challenging, but also one of the most rewarding experiences. This is an experience of unmatched professional value, which also brings new friendships and great cultural enrichment. No other gas industry organisation provides the global reach and cross-sector knowledge and experience that the IGU does. The IGU is about to launch recruitment of the 2022-2025 Committee members, so please stay tuned for the announcement*
Welcome to Beijing for WGC2025!
*If you are interested in becoming a member of the IGU to participate in the TWP and other IGU activities, please contact Marcela Martinez, IGU Membership Engagement Manager, for more information at Marcela.Martinez@igu.org.