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his month, we gather in Washington, D.C., with approximately 12,000 energy leaders from 100 countries to celebrate the industry that produces and delivers essential energy throughout the globe and to coalesce around plans to fuel our future.
It is hard to overstate the significance of the 27th World Gas Conference (WGC 2018) being held at this time and in this place. It is the culmination of advancements across the industry, an opportunity to reflect on what this means for our organization and our nation as well as a chance to look toward the future.
For the United States, this gathering is a recognition of our natural gas abundance and the extraordinary effort by our industry to produce and deliver our product safely and responsibly. Throughout the nation, customers are enjoying affordable and stable natural gas prices. Greater use of natural gas has led to the lowest levels of carbon dioxide emissions in decades. Industries that use natural gas as fuel or feedstock are able to offer goods to consumers at lower prices and create jobs here at home. American companies are pioneering new technologies for homes and businesses that help customers use natural gas, saving them money while providing the comfort and reliability they have come to expect from our fuel. And ships carrying American natural gas are bound for foreign ports, helping to improve the environment and boost economies on a global scale—all of which is top of mind for the people who have traveled far and wide to our capital city for WGC 2018.
We have changed the global energy conversation and realigned our nation’s position on the international stage. What remains is the awesome responsibility of fully realizing the impact of this abundance and continuing to implement smart policies that further boost our economy, enhance our national security and keep us on the pathway to greater emissions reductions.
For the American Gas Association, WGC 2018 is the conclusion of our presidency of the International Gas Union—a process that began a decade ago, when we declared our bid to lead the organization and host this historic event. In Croatia in October 2011, in a process quite similar to the selection of a host nation for the Olympics, the United States was elected to lead the IGU. Planning for the World Gas Conference began even before that day, as did our concerted effort to make the IGU a vehicle to guide the international dialogue around forward-thinking energy policies and industry best practices. During our tenure, the international gas community has spoken with a unified voice—a priority that must continue so that those who have not yet experienced the benefits of natural gas can have the opportunity to participate in this energy revolution.
Our cover story chronicles this journey and its implications as we pass the torch to South Korea, which will lead the IGU for the next triennium. The story looks at the impact that greater use of natural gas has had on the environment and economies on every continent. We also spoke with incoming IGU President J.M. “Joe” Kang, who will be tasked with continuing these trends. We are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for this industry and our international partners.
For me, WGC 2018 is an exclamation point for my career in public service. When I embarked on my career, the United States was a mighty nation—emerging from war in Vietnam but singularly focused on the Soviet Union as a principal international threat. Widely held opinion, government policies and market conditions meant that we were running out of domestic resources and becoming increasingly dependent on energy from far beyond our borders. I spent day after day embroiled in conversations with my colleagues in Congress about how we could break the deadlock and chart a new path. The technologies developed by American energy pioneers unlocked an abundance of natural gas that has changed the world. Since then, I have advocated for policies that will guarantee that we never have to look back. Now, we lead the world in a thoughtful effort to use our energy advantage to improve lives all over the world. That journey continues.
President and CEO