IISD Welcomes Launch of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, Honoured to Host its First Permanent Secretariat

Glasgow – Twelve governments today took the critical first step towards phasing out oil and gas by becoming members of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA). 

The founding full members, including Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Greenland, Ireland, Québec, Sweden, and Wales, commit to ending new concessions, licensing, or leasing rounds for oil and gas production and exploration and to set a Paris-aligned date for ending oil and gas production and exploration on the territory over which they have jurisdiction. California, Portugal, and New Zealand also joined the alliance as associate members, signifying that they are taking steps toward that goal. Italy has joined as a Friend of BOGA.

BOGA will be key to raising climate ambition through limiting oil and gas supply, creating space for the clean energy future that is integral to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement and countries’ net-zero commitments. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) congratulates BOGA members for lighting the path forward and encourages others to follow in their footsteps.

“IISD is honoured to have been appointed as the first permanent Host of the BOGA Secretariat,” said Richard Florizone, IISD President and CEO. “We look forward to supporting both the initial members and the critical expansion of membership across countries and sub-national jurisdictions,”

Peter Wooders, Senior Director of IISD’s Energy Program added. “We commend BOGA’s members for the crucial and courageous decision they have taken to move away from oil and gas and toward sustainable energy supplies. IISD is delighted to be able to support BOGA.”

BOGA was launched during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Twenty-Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow.