The EU buys the most fossil fuels in the world. But do we know what we’re buying?
The EU Methane Regulation has huge potential to hold major polluters accountable and cut methane emissions across the globe. Let’s keep it that way.
Benefits of the EU Methane Regulation
Delivers the fastest solution to slow global warming
Improves energy security by keeping billions of euros of gas in the pipes, not the air
Distinguish between high-emitting and low-emitting fossil fuel producers
The problem
The EU is the world’s biggest buyer of oil and gas, and producing that oil and gas emits huge amounts of climate-warming methane. Yet today, we have no real way of knowing how dirty that fuel is. Not all fossil fuels are created equal. Some producers take action to cut methane, a gas that traps 80x more heat than CO₂. Others do nothing and emit dozens of times more pollution than producers who have taken action.
That’s changing. New EU rules are kicking in to demand data on the climate impact of every fossil fuel shipment into the EU. But some are pushing to weaken and delay the rules – arguing that they’re too hard to put in place.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We have the tools to track fossil fuels through trace-and-claim – a new, more secure approach that traces fuels by following the money. A digital certificate is tied to fuels when they’re sold – and it travels with the purchase, contract to contract, until it reaches Europe.
There’s no need for delay. With trace-and-claim, the EU can hold major polluters accountable, and investors can leverage credible data to reduce capital costs for top performers. This will increase transparency, drive down harmful emissions, and slow down global warming.
What’s at risk?
Years of delays before we pull the handbrake on global warming when we already have the tools we need today.
Loopholes that let the biggest emitters off the hook with a book-and-claim system that risks greenwashing.
Europe loses its credibility as a leader on climate and methane pollution prevention.
Resources
How ‘Following the Money’ Can Track Fossil Fuels Across the Supply Chain
Credibly tracking the origins and associated emissions of fossil fuels across the supply chain is increasingly critical to meet new standards, such as those set by the EU Methane Regulation. Trace-and-claim systems can track where gas is produced – and its associated emissions – by following gas along commercial pathways, providing an effective solution to meet the EU’s new standards and reduce emissions.
Survey Shows Widespread Support for Methane Regulations
European citizens from France, Italy, Germany, and Poland strongly support tough regulations to reduce methane emissions. CATF found widespread support for strong methane regulations among Europeans after conducting a first-of-its-kind cross-national survey of public attitudes toward regulating methane in the energy sector.
Roadmap for the Development of an EU Methane Import Standard
The EU imports 90% of the gas and 97% of the oil it consumes, which means that by implementing a rigorous import standard for these fossil fuels, the EU can take steps to drive methane reduction among its trade partners, reducing the global emissions associated with Europe’s gas consumption.
The EU’s Opportunity to Curb Flaring Pollution and Protect Millions
In this study, Clean Air Task Force shows that oil and gas imports to the European Union expose nearly 10 million people to an avoidable practice known as flaring, which is known to release high levels of harmful chemicals. Through a strong methane import standard, the EU can dent global flaring emissions and decrease the health risk of nearby populations.
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.
It Happens Here Too: Methane Pollution in Europe’s Oil and Gas Network
800+ methane emission sources identified around Europe highlights the need for strong EU Methane Regulation.
CATF visited over 430 oil and gas sites between February 2021 and March 2023, documenting 881 sources of methane emissions across 15 countries.
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