Gas offers bridge to a low-carbon future
The energy transition offers the sector an opportunity, but it should not be complacent
Conventional wisdom holds that gas will be the most resilient of the fossil fuels through the energy transition, and that it is a relative winner because of its low carbon intensity on burning. Yet, with radical change set to sweep through energy markets, the industry cannot be complacent about its future. Gas will have to contend with intensifying competition among fuels, disruption from new technologies and decarbonisation policies designed to undermine fossil fuels’ dominance of energy supply. Varied regional risks In Europe, it is likely that policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will continue to eat away at gas demand. Today, gas demand is c.500bn m³/yr, down by 10pc from the peak
Also in this section
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
14 January 2026
Chavez’s socialist reforms boosted state control but pushed knowledge and capital out of the sector, opening the way for the US shale revolution






