Thank you, EU lawmakers, for reducing global methane pollution
EU policymakers recently passed the bloc’s first major methane regulation – notable for including a groundbreaking new methane import standard that addresses methane emissions from imported oil and gas.
As the world’s largest importer of oil and gas, the EU took advantage of its unique position and leveraged its buying power and climate ambition to drastically reduce global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.
Special thank you to all the negotiators and staff involved in designing the regulation, including but not limited to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, and Members of the European Parliament Jutta Paulus, Pascal Canfin, Maria Spyraki and Martin Hojsík.
Benefits of the EU Methane Regulation:
1/3 Oil and Gas Emissions Reduced Globally
The EU Methane Regulation has the potential to reduce 1/3 of global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.
10 Million Lives Improved
The EU Methane Regulation has the potential to improve the health of almost 10 million people living near flares in EU oil and gas supplying countries.
20x Climate Benefits
With an import standard included, the EU Methane Regulation will reduce 20 times more methane emissions than a regulation covering only domestic EU oil and gas production.
The global impact of the methane import standard:
- With a methane import standard included, the Methane Regulation has the potential to reduce almost a third (33%) of global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, which represents 7% of all man-made methane emissions globally.
- If these reductions are accomplished by 2030, they represent a 20% progress towards achieving the Global Methane Pledge goal which was spearheaded by EU leaders.
- The import standard will reduce 20 times more methane emissions than a regulation covering only domestic EU oil and gas production.
- The amount of gas saved represents €54 billion in savings to exporting partner countries and €1 billion for oil and gas producing countries within the EU.
- The total gas saved – 91 billion cubic meters (bcm) – represents almost the entire yearly consumption of Germany (94 bcm), which is the highest consumer of gas in the EU and one of the largest importers of gas in the world.
- An import standard will improve the lives of almost 10 million people living within 5km of flares in EU supply countries.
Smart methane policy
Apart from a methane import standard, the EU Methane Regulation
contains four other key components:
1. Ban on Routine Venting and Flaring for the Oil and Gas Sector
The EU Methane Regulation bans routine venting and flaring and limits non-routine venting and flaring to unavoidable circumstances, such as for emergency and safety reasons. This ban is key for tackling methane pollution as routine venting and flaring are the largest sources of methane emissions within the EU and around the globe.
2. Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)
The EU Methane Regulation is the first regulation globally that requires measurement, reporting, and verification of methane emissions, both from specific sources and from entire facilities, using direct measurements rather than estimates. As such, this regulation will establish a robust and scientifically rigorous system to identify issues as well as to assess the progress achieved by methane emission abatement programs.
3. Dealing with Abandoned and Unused Oil and Gas Wells
We do not know the total number of abandoned wells in Europe; therefore, the EU Methane Regulation requires companies to create an inventory of abandoned and unused oil and gas wells, monitor their emissions, and adopt a plan to mitigate these emissions as soon as possible. This requirement could lead to substantial reductions in methane emissions from abandoned wells as well as employment opportunities in oil and gas producing Member States.
4. Methane Transparency Database and Rapid Alert Mechanism for Super-Emitting Events
The new EU Methane regulation also features key mechanisms that will help improve the quality and transparency of emissions data, providing information to importers and consumers on the suppliers’ performance and so helping them make decisions regarding new energy contracts.
The rapid alert mechanism will spur action to address large methane leaks detected inside and outside EU borders. Ultimately, both mechanisms will be instrumental for reducing methane emissions globally.
Thank you, EU leaders, for taking action on methane pollution
Survey shows widespread support for methane regulations
Europäische Bürger aus Frankreich, Italien, Deutschland und Polen befürworten nachdrücklich strenge Vorschriften zur Verringerung der Methanemissionen. CATF hat in einer erstmalig durchgeführten länderübergreifenden Umfrage über die Einstellung der Öffentlichkeit zur Regulierung von Methan im Energiesektor eine breite Unterstützung für strenge Methanvorschriften unter den Europäern festgestellt.
Fahrplan für die Entwicklung einer EU-Norm für die Einfuhr von Methan
Die EU importiert 90 % des von ihr verbrauchten Erdgases und 97 % des Erdöls. Das bedeutet, dass die EU durch die Einführung einer strengen Importnorm für diese fossilen Brennstoffe Maßnahmen ergreifen kann, um die Methanreduzierung bei ihren Handelspartnern voranzutreiben und die mit dem europäischen Gasverbrauch verbundenen globalen Emissionen zu verringern.
Die Chance der EU, das Abfackeln der Umweltverschmutzung einzudämmen und Millionen von Menschen zu schützen
In dieser Studie zeigt Clean Air Task Force , dass Öl- und Gasimporte in die Europäische Union fast 10 Millionen Menschen einer vermeidbaren Praxis aussetzen, die als Abfackeln bekannt ist und bekanntermaßen hohe Mengen an schädlichen Chemikalien freisetzt. Durch eine strenge Methan-Importnorm kann die EU die weltweiten Abfackelemissionen eindämmen und das Gesundheitsrisiko für die Bevölkerung in der Umgebung verringern.
The Impact of EU Methane Import Performance Standard
This report shows that a phased methane import performance standard could be implemented as early as 2027, and would reduce emissions associated with oil and gas imports by at least 1.9 million tons per year. The report shows that the standard would have minimal price impacts for natural gas, and not pose any risk to EU energy security.
Es passiert auch hier: Methanverschmutzung im europäischen Öl- und Gasnetz
800+ methane emission sources identified around Europe highlights the need for strong EU Methane Regulation.
CATF besuchte zwischen Februar 2021 und März 2023 über 430 Öl- und Gasstandorte und dokumentierte 881 Quellen von Methanemissionen in 15 Ländern.
