Fact Sheet
Environmental Protection Agency
April 27, 2007

Purpose of Initiative:

Additional Information Website http://www.methanetomarkets.org/

Methane to Markets (M2M) is a multilateral partnership designed to advance cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The partnership is a collaborative effort between governments, the private sector, International Financial Institutions, and civil society working to reduce global methane emissions in order to enhance economic growth, promote energy security, improve the environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Other benefits of the Partnership include improving mine safety, reducing waste, and improving local air quality. The Methane to Markets Partnership targets four major methane sources: 1) animal waste management, 2) coal mines, 3) landfills, and 4) natural gas and oil systems.

Partners:
Governments: M2M currently has 20 government partners including: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Vietnam.

Private Sector and Civil Society: The Partnership includes a robust Network of more than 500 private sector, International Financial Institutions, and civil society organizations designed to facilitate communication, project development and implementation in each of the four programmatic areas. The Network facilitates the efforts of its members, and others, with interests and expertise in methane recovery and use, and is essential to build capacity, transfer technology, and promote private direct investment.

• The Agricultural Network , comprised of 213 private sector and civil society members, is available at: http://www.methanetomarkets.org/ag/index.htm
• A complete listing of the Coal Mine Network, comprised of 266 private sector and civil society members, is at: http://www.methanetomarkets.org/partners/network/pnmList.aspx?type=coal
• The Landfill Sector Network is comprised of 305 members and can be found at: http://www.methanetomarkets.org/landfills/index.htm
• The Oil and Gas Network, comprised of 291 members, can be found at: http://www.methanetomarkets.org/resources/oil-gas/index.htm

Partnership Goals:
By 2015, deliver annual reductions in methane emissions of up to 50 million metric tons of carbon equivalents or the recovery of 500 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas. These reductions, if achieved, could lead to stabilized or even lower levels of global atmospheric concentrations of methane. To give a sense of scale, this would be equivalent to:

• Eliminating the annual emissions of 33 million vehicles
• Planting 55 million acres of trees, or;
• Reducing emissions from fifty 500-megawatt coal fired power plant.

The M2M partnership is reaching its goal through the development and promotion of methane emission reductions projects.

Progress Toward Goals:
On November 16, 2004, fourteen Partner countries signed a Terms of Reference document that outlines the purpose, organization, and functions of the Partnership. Since then, an additional six countries have joined the Partnership. A USG Accomplishments report (http://www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/accompreport.htm), published in fall of 2006, highlights $5 million in U.S. investments to support a wide range of projects and activities in all four Methane to Markets sectors (agriculture, coal mines, landfills, and oil and gas). These investments, if fully implemented, will result in estimated annual emission reductions of approximately 5 million MTCO2E. U.S. investments through 2005 have leveraged over $235 million in public and private sector contributions.

Next Steps:
The next major milestone for the Partnership is the "Methane to Markets Partnership Expo: A Forum for Projects, Technology, Financing and Policy", which will be held 30 October - 1 November 2007 in Beijing, China. China's National Development and Reform Commission will host the Expo. This Expo, a premier international forum will include both conferences and exhibitions aimed at promoting methane capture and use projects and technologies. One of the event's major goals is to spur investment in specific methane capture opportunities and to:

• Showcase project opportunities and technologies
• Meet with potential project partners and financiers
• Learn about the latest technologies and services, and
• Explore key technical, policy, and financial issues

For more information about the Expo and other upcoming events please visit www.methanetomarkets.org

The U.S. Government plans to issue an updated 2007 Accomplishments Report of its M2M activities later this year. Finally, in 2008 the Partnership will develop and publish a Partnership-wide accomplishments report that highlights the efforts of the initiative's 20 partner countries to date.

Resources:
The United States Government has pledged up to $53 million in funding to support the work of the Partnership over the five years spanning 2004 through 2009. The U.S. will continue to work to leverage contributions from partner countries and from the private sector, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions.

USG Primary Points of Contact:

Erin Birgfeld and Henry Ferland, Co-Directors
Administration Support Group Methane to Markets Program
(Phone: 202/343-9683; E-Mail: ASG@methanetomarkets.org)

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