EP position on reducing methane emissions from the energy sector to meet EU climate targets and improve air quality was adopted.

This will be the first piece of EU legislation aimed at reducing methane emissions and will cover direct methane emissions from the oil, gas and coal sectors, as well as biomethane once it is fed into the natural gas network. MEPs also want the new rules to cover the petrochemicals sector.

Parliament calls on the Commission to propose, by the end of 2025, a binding target to reduce methane emissions by 2030 for all relevant sectors. In addition, Member States should set national methane emission reduction targets as part of their integrated national energy and climate plans.

Strengthening obligations to detect and repair methane leaks

Operators will have to submit a methane leak detection and repair program to the competent national authorities six months after the date of entry into force of this regulation, with MEPs calling for more frequent leak detection and repair surveys compared to the Commission’s proposals. They also want to strengthen leak repair obligations, with companies repairing or replacing all components found to be leaking methane no later than five days after a leak is discovered.

Parliament supports a ban on the venting and flaring of methane from tailings stations by 2025 and from ventilation shafts by 2027, ensuring the safety of coal mine workers. It also obliges EU countries to draw up management plans for abandoned coal mines and inactive oil and gas wells.

Rules also for imported energy from fossil fuels

As imports account for over 80% of the oil and gas consumed in the EU, MEPs want, from 2026, importers of coal, oil and gas to be required to demonstrate that imported fossil energy also meets the requirements of the regulation. Imports from countries with similar methane emission requirements will be exempted.

Statements

After the vote, rapporteur Jutta Paulus (Greens, Germany) said: “Today’s vote is a commitment to greater climate protection and energy sovereignty in Europe. Without ambitious measures to reduce methane emissions, Europe will fall short of its climate targets and precious energy will continue to be wasted. We are calling for ambitious and stringent measures to reduce methane. In the energy sector, three quarters of methane emissions can be avoided with simple measures and without major investments. As Europe imports more than 80% of the fossil fuels it burns, it is necessary to extend the scope to energy imports.”

Next steps

Parliament adopted its position by 499 votes to 73 with 55 abstentions and is now ready to start negotiations with the Council on the final text of the legislation.

Relevant information

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and air pollutant responsible for about one-third of current global warming. It comes from a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, waste and energy, which are respectively responsible for 53%, 26% and 19% of EU methane emissions, according to the European Environment Agency. Today, methane emissions are covered by the EU Effort Sharing Regulation targets.

The EU has signed the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, which could eliminate a temperature rise of more than 0.2°C until 2050.

By adopting this negotiating position, Parliament is responding to citizens’ expectations that companies adopt more environmentally friendly methods and tackle pollution, which were expressed in motions 11(1), 11(7), 3(2) and 2 (2) of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Athena Papakosta