FECM Launches Key Carbon Management Initiatives at COP26
FECM Launches Key Carbon Management Initiatives at COP26
FECM’s Acting Assistant Secretary Dr. Jennifer Wilcox pictured on a tour with Carbon Clean at COP26
FECM’s Acting Assistant Secretary Dr. Jennifer Wilcox pictured on a tour with Carbon Clean at COP26

Key Bilateral Activities

U.S.-India Low Emission Gas Task Force

The U.S.-India Low Emission Gas Task Force (LEGTF) is an industry-focused forum which identifies innovative policy reforms to support India’s ambitions to reduce consumption of high-polluting fuels by increasing the use of natural gas for transportation, industrial, and residential purposes. The LEGTF’s focus on India’s natural gas policy, technology, and addressing regulatory barriers promotes efficient and market-driven solutions aimed at meeting India’s growing energy demand and emissions reduction targets.

The LEGTF is a component of the Responsible Oil and Gas Pillar of the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP). The Office of Resource Sustainability and India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas are the government leads for the LEGTF, and the U.S. Energy Association and India’s Gas Authority of India Ltd. serve as the LEGTF co-secretariats. The LEGTF has three subcommittees of volunteer industry and regulatory experts which identify challenges to and opportunities for natural gas development in India: Markets and Regulation, Gas Grid Strengthening, and Cleaner Transport Fuels.

U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership

Under the U.S.-India Strategic Economic Dialogue, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) co-chairs the Power & Energy Efficiency Pillar, under which discussions on clean fossil energy technologies and carbon capture and storage (CCS) are held and joint commercial projects are pursued. Additionally, the United States and India are developing research and development (R&D) collaboration under the Partnership on Clean Energy Research-Demonstration initiative on CCS, advanced coal technologies, and supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) power cycles.

U.S.-Norway Collaboration on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and CCUS

FECM and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Fossil Energy in 2004. More recently, the MOU has been focused on CCS, with areas of joint interest including large-scale testing of carbon capture technologies and CO2 storage and monitoring, verification, and accounting. Under the MOU, DOE and Norway jointly sponsor annual bilateral CCS meetings. The last in-person meeting was held in August 2019 in the United States and virtual meetings were held in June 2020 and June 2021.

U.S.-Japan Strategic Energy Partnership

Under a Memorandum of Cooperation on CCUS, amended in 2017 to emphasize CO2 utilization and CCUS project development, the U.S.-Japan Strategic Energy Partnership (JUSEP) focuses on collaboration between the two countries to advance energy infrastructure, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S.-Japan Energy Cooperation Working Group (ECWG) manages the energy component of the U.S.-Japan Economic Dialogue, focusing mainly on the bilateral energy trade, investment and commercial engagement. Both JUSEP and ECWG were launched in 2017.

U.S.-China Collaboration in Fossil Energy R&D

FECM and China's Ministry of Science and Technology exchange information and expertise through several different partnerships and agreements to promote the efficient and environmentally responsible production and use of coal, oil and natural gas.

U.S.-UK Collaboration in Fossil Energy R&D

FECM and the United Kingdom's DOE and Climate Change are sharing and developing knowledge and expertise in the areas of high-temperature materials for advanced fossil energy power plant applications.

U.S.-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum

DOE and China’s National Energy Administration held the most recent annual U.S.-China Oil & Gas Industry Forum in 2018. Since its inception in 1998, the forum has brought together government and industry representatives from the U.S. and China to discuss a variety of technical subjects.

Key Multilateral Activities

Clean Energy Ministerial

The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs to advance clean energy technology, to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy. Initiatives are based on areas of common interest among participating governments and other stakeholders.

CEM CCUS Initiative

The CEM CCUS Initiative strengthens the framework for public-private collaboration on CCUS, while complementing the efforts and adding coordinated value beyond the activities of existing organizations and initiatives, such as the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG), the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), Mission Innovation (MI), and the Global CCS Institute (GCCSI).

The Initiative’s objective is to accelerate CCUS as a viable CO2 mitigation option; facilitate diffusion of knowledge on technologies, regulations, and policies; and lead to strategic partnerships to accelerate both near- and longer-term investment in CCUS to advance global deployment by making it more competitive. The United States, through FECM, co-leads the Initiative along with Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

Mission Innovation (MI) Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Mission

Mission Innovation is a global initiative to catalyze action and investment in research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) to make clean energy affordable, attractive, and accessible to all this decade. This will accelerate progress towards the Paris Agreement goals and pathways to net-zero. Co-led by the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, the MI CDR Mission advances CDR technologies to enable a net reduction of 100 million metric tons of CO2 per year globally by 2030. CDR technologies can complement ongoing emissions reduction and mitigation strategies—decreasing atmospheric concentrations of CO2 that remain despite those efforts. This Mission catalyzes a global CDR industry by advancing RD&D and facilitating pilot-scale tests and deployment.

The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum

Established in 2003, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) is a multilateral initiative focused on the development of improved cost-effective technologies for CCS and provides a platform for countries to coordinate research and activities. The Forum also promotes awareness and champions legal, regulatory, financial, and institutional environments conducive to such technologies. The CSLF comprises 26 members, including 25 countries and the European Commission. The United States, through FECM, serves as the executive secretariat and Chair of the Policy Group.

Accelerating CCS Technologies

Accelerating CCS Technologies (ACT) is an international initiative to facilitate RD&D and innovation on CCS. Fourteen members are working together to fund world-class RD&D innovation that can advance safe and cost-effective CCS technology. In addition to the U.S., participating members include the following: Emissions Reduction Alberta (Canada), Danish Energy Agency, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Nordic Energy Research, Norway (ACT coordinator), Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Asia CCUS Network

The Asia CCUS Network (ACN) provides a platform for policymakers, financial institutions, industry, and academia to share their knowledge, experience, and best practices on CCUS around the world. The ACN aims to tailor those best practices for practical application of CCUS in Asia. Since its launch in June 2021, governments of 13 countries, including the United States, have joined the Network as members, with hundreds of public and private companies, academia, financial institutions, and regional and international organizations as supporting members. FECM serves a member of the ACN Advisory Group.

Responsible Natural Gas Options for Africa: Understanding Natural Gas & LNG Options serves a resource for African countries that are developing, or considering developing, natural gas and associated industries in a responsible and sustainable manner. The handbook was prepared by DOE’s Offices of International Affairs and FECM with assistance from the U.S. Energy Association and funding from USAID/Power Africa.

International Energy Agency

The IEA is an autonomous organization within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that works to ensure reliable, affordable, and clean energy for its 29 member countries and beyond. It is at the heart of the global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative and unbiased research, statistics, analysis, and recommendations. 

  • IEA Technology Collaboration Programs: IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG) is an international collaborative research program established in 1991 to evaluate technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is now the world’s preeminent CCS research organization, spanning the work of over 1500 researchers across the globe. FECM represents the on IEAGHG’s Executive Committee.