Chief Executive’s Monthly Update for May 2026
By Charlotte Morton OBE, Chief Executive of the World Biogas Association
This year, the World Biogas Association (WBA) turns ten – and what a decade it has been. Since our launch at COP22 in Marrakesh in 2016, we have worked tirelessly alongside governments, industry leaders and international institutions to advance biogas and biomethane as essential solutions for climate action, methane mitigation, energy security and circular economic growth. Through driving political ambition and policy development worldwide – resulting in more than 50 new policies in five years and sector growth that has averaged 20% annually over the past three years, WBA has helped transform biogas from an under-recognised technology into a critical pillar of the global energy transition.
Reaching this milestone is a moment to celebrate, but, above all, it is a moment to look forward. The real opportunity lies ahead. The next ten years must be about implementation at scale: accelerating investment, building robust regulatory frameworks and delivering projects that reduce emissions while strengthening energy and food security worldwide. Throughout 2026, our anniversary activities will reflect both the progress made and the ambition that drives us into this next defining decade.
That implementation agenda is already very much in motion. On 23 June, WBA will co-host a high-level stakeholder consultation with the Government of Madhya Pradesh to develop the state’s biogas action plan – a landmark step under our #MakingBiogasHappen (MBH) programme. The aim is to develop a practical, implementation-oriented action plan that address critical gaps in policy, financing, supply chains and technical capacity. Our approach takes a holistic view of feedstock availability and resource optimisation, with active engagement across waste management, Urban Local Bodies, and industrial stakeholders. The Madhya Pradesh consultation represents a tangible example of how MBH is turning policy ambition into on-the-ground action, and we look forward to sharing more from this important programme in the months ahead.
On the international front, on 15 May, we hosted online our 16th National Associations Roundtable, bringing together national biogas associations from around the world to share developments in their markets and explore emerging opportunities for the sector. Among the most compelling discussions was the potential of biogas to decarbonise the maritime sector, a huge demand pull for the sector. With the IMO Net Zero Framework negotiations advancing and the shipping sector facing mounting pressure to decarbonise, biomethane, particularly in the form of bio-LNG, is increasingly recognised as one of the most practical near-term pathways available to shipowners. This is an opportunity the biogas sector cannot afford to overlook, and one we will be tracking closely.
All of this and more will come together when the global biogas community converges in Birmingham on 8-9 July for the World Biogas Expo and Summit. Two days packed with unmissable content – cutting-edge technology, high-level policy debate, investment panels and networking – will bring together investors, industry leaders and policymakers from across the world to assess progress and accelerate deployment. The Expo and Summit will be accompanied by the AD & Biogas Industry Awards 2026, celebrating the very best of our sector’s innovation, leadership and achievement. We hope to see as many of you as possible in Birmingham – do not miss it.
As we mark ten years, I want to express my sincere gratitude to every member, partner and colleague who has been part of this journey. The progress we have achieved is a testament to what our community can accomplish when we work together with shared purpose. The next decade will demand even more of us – and I am confident we are ready.