PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Opening Statement by Ms. Tatiana Molcean

The Forum is hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). [...] We have convened governments, industry leaders and international partners from all over the world to promote replicable methane mitigation successes, and to mobilize action to achieve the ambitious methane emission reductions needed to limit global temperature growth to 1.5°C by mid-century. [...] The annual sessions of the Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition and the Group of Experts on Gas are taking place in the framework of the Forum. [...] Page 4 The objective of these Groups of Experts is to determine and promote the most efficient methods of measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) of emissions, and to develop best practices for preventing them during the entire coal and gas life cycles. [...] Page 5 Before I close, let me thank our partners, the Global Methane Initiative, the Global Methane Hub, the Clean Air Task Force and the US Environmental Protection Agency, for their efforts in the organization of the event and the resources they have provided to host you here.