In this month’s Highwood Bulletin, we cover EPA’s proposal to overhaul its greenhouse gas reporting program, a move that has sparked strong industry debate. We also look at the new ISO–GHG Protocol partnership and its potential to reshape global methane accounting standards, alongside the rapid pace of evolving regulatory frameworks in North America and Europe.
On the EU front, we dive into collaborative approaches for methane regulation compliance, including how member states are aligning enforcement strategies. We also report on the collapse of a major acquisition deal tied to methane performance metrics, which could signal shifting priorities in corporate climate strategies.
In addition, this issue highlights Highwood’s leadership initiatives, the expansion of our training resources, and details of upcoming North American conferences where the future of methane policy and innovation will be on the agenda.
EPA Proposes Elimination of Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
The Environmental Protection Agency has released a proposal to terminate its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), citing burdensome costs and regulatory inefficiencies. The proposal, published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2025, suggests potential savings of $24 million while fundamentally altering emissions data reporting in the United States. Themove raises questions about future emissions transparency and accountability mechanisms at the federal level. (Read more in the Federal Register)
ISO and GHG Protocol Announce Strategic Partnership
The International Organization for Standardization and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol have formalized a strategic partnership aimed at delivering unified global standards for emissions accounting. This collaboration seeks to address long-standing concerns about fragmented reporting frameworks and inconsistent methodologies across jurisdictions. The partnership promises to streamline compliance requirements for multinational operators while enhancing comparability of emissions data across regions. (Learn more here)
California Advances Methane Waste Reduction Legislation
California has passed legislation targeting methane waste from oil and gas operations, adding to the state’s continued focus on climate policy. The new bill introduces stringent requirements for leak detection, repair timelines, and waste gas capture, with particular focus on addressing emissions from idle wells and aging infrastructure. Rocky Mountain Institute analysis suggests the legislation could reduce sector emissions by up to 40% over the next decade. (Read the RMI analysis)
Industry Collaboration Proposes EUMR Traceability Framework
The Environmental Defense Fund, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and Clean Air Task Force have jointly developed a proposal for implementing traceability requirements under the European Union Methane Regulation. The collaborative framework, titled “A Workable Solution for Implementing the European Methane Emissions Regulation,” addresses critical gaps in supply chain verification and provides practical pathways for demonstrating compliance with import requirements. The proposal emphasizes harmonized measurement protocols and standardized documentation systems. (Access the full proposal)
EEMDL Releases Draft Verification Protocol for Public Comment
The Energy Emissions Management and Data Lab has published its draft verification protocol for industry feedback, with an accompanying webinar to discuss key provisions. The protocol aims to establish standards for third-party verification of methane emissions data, addressing growing demands for assured emissions reporting across regulatory and voluntary frameworks. Comments on the draft protocol will be accepted through October 2025. (Watch the webinar | Review the draft protocol)
European Court Upholds Natural Gas as Sustainable Investment
In a significant ruling with implications for energy transition financing, European courts have affirmed that natural gas can be classified as a sustainable investment under certain conditions. The decision validates the European Union’s taxonomy framework that includes natural gas as a transitional fuel, despite challenges from environmental groups. This ruling potentially unlocks billions in green finance for gas infrastructure projects meeting specific emissions thresholds. (Read more here)
Santos Methane Revelations Potentially Impact ADNOC Acquisition
Speculation exists that long-term methane emissions from Santos’ gas hub operations emerged as a critical factor in the collapse of ADNOC’s $36.4 billion acquisition bid. Reports revealed that the facility had been experiencing significant methane leakage for nearly two decades, raising concerns about asset integrity and environmental liabilities. ADNOC’s withdrawal from negotiations on September 18 may underscore the increasing importance of methane performance in major energy transactions and valuations. (Initial report | Acquisition collapse)
Oxford Institute Recommends UK Alignment with OGMP 2.0
The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies has published an analysis comparing European Union and United Kingdom methane regulations, recommending that the UK adopt or shadow the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 framework. The report, “Bridging the Methane Gap,” argues that alignment with OGMP 2.0 would facilitate trade, reduce compliance complexity for operators, and enhance the credibility of UK climate commitments. The analysis highlights specific gaps in current UK regulations that could undermine competitiveness. (Read the Oxford analysis)
Highwood Leadership Evolution Strengthens Strategic Direction
Highwood Emissions Management has refined its leadership roles to set it up for the next phase of growth: Jessica Shumlich has become COO, leading our consulting business and scaling operations to meet growing customer demand. Thomas Fox is now CEO, focusing on innovation and go-to-market strategy. This is not a change in direction, but a natural evolution as the company builds on its growing momentum. Their ambition remains the same: to be the go-to partner for oil and gas companies working toward near-zero methane emissions. (Learn more here)
Jessica Secures Victory in Innovation Pitch Competition
In a testament to Highwood’s vision and its culture of innovation, COO Jessica Shumlich has won a prestigious Gastech Innovation Accelerator pitch competition at Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy. Her winning pitch underscored why managing methane has become increasingly complex — and showcased how Highwood Emissions Intelligence Platform (EIP) simplifies the challenge by delivering fast, credible, and auditable reporting. With EIP, energy companies can secure OGMP 2.0 Gold, prove real reductions, and transform emissions data into smarter business decisions. This achievement reinforces Highwood’s commitment to fostering creative solutions for industry challenges. (Details here)
Conference: EEMDL Annual Event
Early bird registration remains open for the EEMDL 2025 Annual Event at the University of Texas in Austin, October 21-23. This premier gathering brings together thought leaders from academia, industry, and policy sectors to advance the science and practice of emissions measurement and management. Highwood representatives will contribute to sessions on reconciliation methodologies and measurement-informed inventories. (Register here)
Conference: CH4 Connections
Mark your calendars for CH4 Connections 2025, October 8-9, co-hosted by GTI Energy and Colorado State University Energy Institute, in Fort Collins. This conference facilitates critical exchanges between researchers, operators, regulators, and environmental advocates on cutting-edge methane detection, quantification, and mitigation strategies. Highwood will showcase recent advances in its Emissions Intelligence Platform and reconciliation capabilities. (Learn more)
Wake Up and Smell the Methane
Thomas Fox, CEO, Highwood Emissions, continues to deliver essential industry insights through Monday Morning Methane, his weekly series highlighting key developments in the methane emissions space. Recent editions have explored everything from satellite monitoring advances to regulatory implementation challenges across multiple jurisdictions. Whether he is tracking OGMP 2.0 progress, EUMR developments, or emerging technologies, his goal is to provide concise weekly updates on what matters most. Search the #MondayMorningMethane hashtag on LinkedIn to access all installments, or subscribe to the Highwood YouTube channel for weekly episodes.
Highwood: Research Digest Continues to Inform
The 16th edition of Highwood’s Research Digest remains available, offering comprehensive coverage of recent methane emissions research with a focus on measurement method advances, quantification techniques, and emission source identification within the oil and gas sector. This free resource synthesizes complex scientific developments into actionable insights for industry practitioners. (Access it here)
Highwood: Expanded Online Methane Course Offerings
Highwood’s online learning platform continues to grow with courses now available on reconciliation and measurement-informed inventories, OGMP 2.0 implementation, methane technology fundamentals, regulatory frameworks, and voluntary initiatives. These on-demand resources provide flexible professional development opportunities tailored to diverse roles and experience levels within the methane management ecosystem. (Explore courses here)
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