More than 30 organisations urge Commission to defend EU Methane Regulation
More than 30 civil society organisations are urging the European Commission to block changes that would weaken the EU Methane Regulation.
EU governments are expected to vote on their negotiating position on 6 November, after the European Parliament backed a three-year delay to the law’s requirements on 22 October.
In a joint letter, these organisations ask the Commission to:
- Stick to its own proposal: a one-year delay to methane monitoring, reporting and verification requirements for importers of oil, gas and coal.
- Reject changes that go further, such as longer delays.
- As a last resort, withdraw the proposal if the final deal undermines the law’s core aim: cutting methane emissions from the oil, gas and coal the EU produces and imports.
Under the EU Treaties, if the Commission refuses amendments that damage the proposal’s essential balance, objectives or scope, the Council of the EU can only adopt them unanimously. The Commission can also withdraw the proposal altogether.
Several fossil fuel industry associations and several governments called for delays, citing compliance and energy supply concerns. The Commission proposed a one-year delay, which needs formal approval from Parliament and EU governments. On 22 October, Parliament backed a three-year delay and broadened the scope of the amendments. The signatories say the push for longer delays is driven less by evidence than by political and industry pressure.
“A three-year delay is not driven by energy security risks or technical needs. The one-year initial proposal is already more than enough to fix the current implementation bottlenecks. This is the result of industry pressure using overblown arguments,” said Pablo Lopez Legarreta, Europe Policy Manager, Methane Pollution Prevention, CATF.
The risk: Reopening the Regulation before its requirements even apply creates regulatory uncertainty, weakens investor confidence and signals that EU climate and energy laws may not last, the signatories warn. They remain ready to work on practical solutions that speed up implementation without compromising the law’s core objectives.
“A workable compromise can address implementation challenges while preserving the Regulation’s purpose. The Commission opened pandora’s box with its proposal to delay the Regulation, now it needs to take responsibility to protect it and pull the plug if the process in Parliament and Council point towards regulation that becomes too weak and comes too late. The Commission has an important role in keeping changes proportionate and giving businesses the certainty they need to invest,” said Alessia Virone, Acting Director, Europe, CATF.
Why methane matters: Methane is responsible for nearly a third of the warming experienced today. Because it stays in the atmosphere for much less time than carbon dioxide, cutting methane emissions can slow warming within our lifetimes. Reducing methane emissions reduces waste and keeps more gas available for use. Every delay postpones these climate and energy benefits.
Who signed: Signatories include Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Environmental Defense Fund Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace, WWF European Policy Office and CATF. Read the full letter and list of signatories: https://www.catf.us/resource/joint-letter-eu-methane-regulation/
Press Contact
Julia Kislitsyna, Communications Manager, Europe, [email protected], +4915116220453
About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global climate organization working to advance the full range of solutions needed for a healthy climate and a thriving planet. Founded in 1996, CATF conducts research and analysis to identify promising solutions, then works across governments, industry, and partners in more than 40 countries to deliver them at scale. It takes no funding from governments or the industries it works to influence, so its analysis and advocacy follows the facts. Over 30 years, its work has helped shape major climate and energy policy around the world. CATF is consistently recognized as one of the most effective climate organizations in the world by independent evaluators including Giving Green and Founders Pledge. Learn more at cleanairtaskforce.org.
