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On December 5, 2023, during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (“COP28”), 38 countries, including the United States, publicly endorsed the “COP28 Declaration of Intent on the Mutual Recognition of Certification Schemes for Renewable and Low-Carbon Hydrogen and Hydrogen Derivatives”.
The first of the five statements of the intentions of the Declaration is that: “In order to pave the way for development of a global market renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives, the Participants seek to work towards mutual recognition of their respective certification schemes.” The other four statements address the subjects of developing technical solutions, nominating government experts, potential further steps, and annual progress monitoring relating to certification.
The Declaration, when listing the United States as a Participant, notes that, while the term “low‑carbon hydrogen” is used by the Declaration: “Based on language in its national legislation, the United States uses the term ‘clean hydrogen’ rather than ‘low-carbon hydrogen,’ and understands ‘low-carbon’ in this document and others as inclusive of hydrogen produced with renewable energy, nuclear energy, or carbon capture and sequestration, but not inclusive of hydrogen produced with unabated fossil energy including natural gas.”
The statement of the United States regarding the Declaration, and the full text of the Declaration, may be found on the web site of the U.S. Department of Energy here: https://www.energy.gov/articles/cop28-countries-launch-declaration-intent-clean-hydrogen?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery