The Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) successfully achieved its original goal of elevating the importance of methane reduction within the oil and gas industry. The focus on methane reduction has since intensified through various initiatives, which continue to evolve and grow.
Most resources from the Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) have been transferred over to the International Organization of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP). The IOGP offers an extensive library of resources and tools for methane reduction. Additionally, the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) provides valuable materials and guidance as well.
The Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) initiative officially retired on July 2, 2025. However, the MGP website will remain active until December 2025 to provide access to material and new locations of material.
On the contrary, the oil and gas industry is more committed to methane reduction than ever before. The retirement of the Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) supports a more focused approach of these efforts. Ongoing initiatives from the OGCI, OGDC, IOGP, Ipieca and others underscore the industry’s dedication to continually reducing methane emissions.
MGP is an industry consortium for energy companies and civil society organizations. Its aim is to accelerate efforts to reduce methane emissions across the oil and gas value chain—one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to limit manmade climate change. According to the International Energy Agency, rapid reductions in methane emissions from the oil and gas industry could shave 0.1 degrees Celsius off the potential rise in global temperatures by mid-century.
MGP’s work is centered around five guiding principles:
Find out more about MGP and the five guiding principles.
MGP’s work focuses on knowledge-sharing, capacity-building and disseminating best practices among companies, governments, and research and advocacy organizations. Members lead and participate in one or more initiatives under the MGP banner:
In addition to these workstreams, MGP engages in numerous educational activities around methane management and reduction, including webinars, masterclasses and in-person events. It also hosts several resources for those looking to find out more about methane, including from partners and other stakeholders across the energy landscape.
Find out more about MGP initiatives and how we work.
MGP was founded by a coalition of eight leading energy companies:
It emerged from a roundtable held on November 22, 2017, in which the five guiding principles were promulgated. The eight founding members wanted to show leadership and recognized the need collaborate in order to address the global challenge of methane reduction. MGP’s founding was endorsed by the following organizations:
Find out more about MGP’s founding and follow the latest news about MGP.
Is your company committed to accelerating the reduction of methane emissions in its operations and beyond?
Having achieved its objectives, the Methane Guiding Principles (MGP) initiative will now be retired, with key activities transferred to other organisations and initiatives to seize consolidation opportunities.