COP30: Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter Sustains Momentum With Release of 2025 Status Report
The Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), a global coalition of leading energy companies dedicated to accelerating decarbonization within the oil and gas industry, has released its 2025 Status Report: Implementing Action. The Charter—spearheaded by the CEOs of ADNOC, Aramco, and TotalEnergies and supported by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI)—highlights major strides in transparency, emissions reporting, capacity building, and coordinated climate action as the sector navigates one of the most consequential transitions in its history.
Two years after its launch at COP28, OGDC has grown into a uniquely action-oriented, multilateral platform focused on reducing emissions from a sector that remains integral to the global energy economy. Today, the Charter has expanded to 55 signatories operating across more than 100 countries, representing around 40% of global oil production. Notably, two-thirds of participating companies are state-owned enterprises, many located in emerging economies—making OGDC one of the few global initiatives to bridge both developed and developing markets under a unified decarbonization framework.
A New Standard for Industry-Wide Emissions Reporting
One of the report’s most important milestones is the introduction of standardized emissions reporting across OGDC member companies. For the first time, signatories submitted data aligned with the OGCI Reporting Framework, providing a baseline for consistent and comparable reporting across 55 companies.
According to the report, operated Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from OGDC members totaled an estimated 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) in 2024. Upstream operations achieved an average carbon intensity of 24 kilograms of CO₂e per barrel of oil equivalent, offering a clearer picture of sector-wide emissions performance.
The 2025 Status Report underscores:
- Comprehensive data coverage: 50 of the 55 signatories submitted data, covering 98% of OGDC’s operated production, the majority of which has undergone third-party assurance.
- Improved transparency: 35 companies voluntarily provided previously unpublished data, while three new companies reported for the first time, and two organizations established company-wide emissions baselines.
- Meaningful ambition-setting: 42 signatories—representing 94% of OGDC’s production—have now established interim 2030 emissions reduction ambitions for Scope 1 and 2, with 36 of these companies developing corresponding action plans. This demonstrates tangible progress since the 2024 Baseline Report, which noted fewer companies with formalized plans on methane reduction and flaring elimination.
Scaling Action Through Collaboration
A central pillar of OGDC’s progress is its Collaborate & Share program, which enables companies to exchange knowledge, operational insights, and best practices across borders. Through workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges, and targeted technical training, the program catalyzes accelerated implementation of methane-reduction projects, flaring elimination strategies, and strengthened emissions reporting systems.
More than 2,000 professionals from 50 companies have now completed OGDC-backed training—an impressive tenfold increase compared to the previous year. These programs are delivered in cooperation with global bodies such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank, OGCI, and other climate and energy institutions, making OGDC a central node for practical, collaborative decarbonization solutions.
The Charter’s signatories have also collectively invested approximately USD $32 billion in low-carbon solutions during 2024, including renewables, carbon capture technologies, hydrogen production, and low-carbon fuels. These investments underline the industry’s growing alignment with global energy transition pathways and its recognition of the strategic importance of emissions reduction technologies.
CEO-Level Leadership Ahead of COP30
High-level leadership has been instrumental in OGDC’s expansion and influence. Earlier this month, ahead of COP30, 35 CEOs from OGDC member companies convened to reaffirm their commitment to the Charter’s goals and align on next steps for implementation and transparency.
OGDC’s CEO Champions reflected on the coalition’s direction and its achievements to date:
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, COP28 President, and OGDC CEO Champion, emphasized the rapid scaling of the initiative:
“Two years ago at COP28, we came together to create the world’s first truly industry-wide coalition to decarbonize at scale. Since its inception, OGDC has grown to include 55 signatories representing around 40% of global oil production across more than 100 countries. Together, we are turning the Charter’s words into action by delivering tangible progress, scaling innovation, and reporting transparently against our shared commitments.”
Amin H. Nasser, President and CEO of Aramco and OGDC CEO Champion, noted the tangible gains in emissions reduction efforts and transparency:
“After just two years, OGDC is helping signatory companies deliver measurable progress. Its mentorship and training programs are enabling companies worldwide to advance their voluntary emissions reduction plans and reporting. This report reaffirms our focus on continuing to reduce emissions while maintaining the energy security the world needs.”
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies and OGDC CEO Champion, highlighted the platform’s shift from planning to implementation:
“OGDC is about action and collective delivery. This year we moved from baseline to implementation, with almost all signatories reporting data covering 98% of operated production and more companies setting 2030 targets backed by detailed plans. Our priority now is clear: cut methane, end routine flaring, and report progress consistently. We invite all IOCs and NOCs to join and demonstrate measurable results by the next COP.”
A Growing Platform for Global Impact
Bjørn Otto Sverdrup, Head of the OGDC Secretariat, said the 2025 report illustrates how collaboration can accelerate decarbonization across a complex global industry:
“Implementing action and measuring progress are at the core of OGDC. More companies are reporting, more are setting ambitions, and more are translating those ambitions into measurable steps. With OGDC, we have created a platform for companies across North, South, East, and West to share best practices and accelerate decarbonization—particularly toward reducing methane and eliminating routine flaring by 2030.”
As the world turns its attention to COP30, the OGDC’s 2025 Status Report demonstrates that industry-wide collaboration—supported by consistent reporting, strong leadership, and committed investment—can deliver meaningful progress toward a lower-carbon future. The Charter continues to show that collective action across borders, company types, and technical capabilities is not only possible but already reshaping the decarbonization landscape for the oil and gas sector.
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