Natural gas emits significantly less CO2 and air pollutants during combustion than coal and oil per unit energy generated. Therefore, natural gas often is part of mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the transition path toward a net-zero decarbonized energy supply.
At 4.22 Tm3, global natural gas production in 2023 remained almost unchanged from the previous year (previous year: 4.15 Tm3). Global natural gas reserves amount to 209 Tm3. The Russian Federation, Iran and Qatar together hold around half of the world's natural gas reserves.
Germany's share of global natural gas imports in 2023 amounts to approx. 7%. Around 20% of this natural gas has been re-exported to neighbouring European countries. With a consumption of around 77 Bill. m33, Germany is the ninth largest consumer in the world.