Methane: Parliament adopts new law to reduce emissions from energy sector

First EU-wide legislation to cut methane emissions

Requirements also for imported oil, gas and coal from 2027

Methane is responsible for about a third of current global warming

The new law will enable the EU to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector to reach the EU’s climate goals and improve air quality.

Parliament on Wednesday adopted a provisional political agreement with EU countries on a new law to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector, with 530 votes in favour, 63 against and 28 abstentions.

The new regulation is the first piece of EU legislation aimed at cutting methane emissions and covers direct methane emissions from the oil, fossil gas and coal sectors, and from biomethane once it is injected into the gas network.

You can read more about the new rules in the press release after the deal with EU countries.

Quote

After the vote the co-rapporteur, Jutta Paulus (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, DE) said: “Finally, the EU is tackling the second most important greenhouse gas. Reducing methane emissions is not only climate action but also improving air quality and increasing energy sovereignty in the EU. Extending the rules to include imports will have an impact worldwide. With the new EU Methane Regulation, the EU is delivering on its climate goals and the Global Methane Pledge."

After the vote the co-rapporteur, Pascal Canfin (Renew, FR) said: “This is the first EU law aiming to reduce methane emissions. Until now, methane was a blind spot in our climate policies. Now we are not only tackling domestic methane emissions but also those from our fossil fuels imports! This is further progress in the Green Deal to respect our international commitments.”

Next steps

The law now also has to be adopted by Council, before being published in the EU Official Journal and entering into force 20 days later.

Background

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and air pollutant, and is responsible for approximately a third of current global warming. The EU has signed up to the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, which could eliminate over 0.2˚C warming by 2050.

In adopting this legislation, Parliament is responding to citizens' expectations to accomplish and speed up the green transition as expressed in Proposals 2(2), 3(2), 11(1) and 11(7) of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.