EU Parliament backs three-year delay to methane import rules, putting critical climate progress at risk
The European Parliament voted today to delay key methane requirements for imported oil and gas by three years – two years longer and broader than the European Commission proposed.
Parliament’s position would move the deadline for importers to demonstrate equivalent monitoring, reporting, and verification for relevant contracts to 31 May 2031. Amendments also included moving the first methane-intensity reporting to 5 August 2031 and loosening measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) requirements by allowing for continuous monitoring technologies to be considered as satisfying site-level measurement requirements.
Today´s plenary vote gives the European Parliament a mandate to negotiate the final text and deadlines during the upcoming trilogue negotiations with the Council of the EU and the European Commission. Meanwhile, EU countries are expected to seek a compromise next Wednesday after failing to reach an agreement earlier this week.
Clean Air Task Force opposes the three-year delay.
“There is no justification for a three-year delay. One year was already a significant concession, and going further is a blow to the EU’s international climate credibility. The EU Methane Regulation is the world’s only binding methane import standard and is one of the most important climate laws globally adopted this decade. Caving to political and industry pressure is a failure of EU leadership, and it puts one of our best chances to slow warming within our lifetimes at risk,” said Brandon Locke, Director of Global Methane Policy at Clean Air Task Force.
CATF’s fact sheet on industry claims about the EU Methane Regulation explains why calls for a blanket three-year postponement do not withstand scrutiny.
Methane traps more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Cutting methane pollution is the fastest way to slow global warming.
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organisation working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalysing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 30 years of internationally recognised expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
