Brussels, 19th December 2022 -- Today, EU Energy Ministers adopted their position (the General Approach) on a proposed Regulation to tackle wasted methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.
Responding to the outcome, Flavia Sollazzo, senior director of EU Energy Transition at Environmental Defense Fund Europe, said:
“This is a very disappointing outcome. As an architect of the Global Methane Pledge, the EU now risks falling short of its own commitments to curb this extremely dirty greenhouse gas. Energy Ministers have scaled back their ambitions, especially when it comes to leak detection and repair."
“Methane waste makes no sense from a climate, energy security or economic point of view. Today’s decision by Ministers to water down legislation is a self-inflicted wound. The legislative process is not over yet, and we will continue to urge the EU to adopt an ambitious law that sets a standard for the rest of the world.”
Jill Duggan, Executive Director at Environmental Defense Fund Europe, added:
“Tackling methane waste from the oil and gas industry is a triple win for the climate, consumers and business. It prevents methane from escaping into the atmosphere; the wasted methane can be channeled back into warming our homes; and industry can benefit from the revenue of gas that is not lost."
ENDS
Notes:
- New analysis by S&P Global, commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund, estimates that by cutting these preventable losses in six key export regions, more than 80 billion cubic meters (bcm) of methane could be captured and profitably brought to market. That is almost 60% of Europe’s pre-war annual imports from Russia. The analysis lays out specific steps that could bring 40 bcm of new supply to market – more than the total annual gas demand of France – in just two to three years, using export capacity either in place or under construction today. Capturing this gas would avert 760 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent, an amount roughly the size of Germany’s total annual emissions.
- EDFE has launched a #cutmethaneEU advertising campaign in the EU quarter in Brussels. The adverts highlight the benefits for climate and energy security by taking action to reduce waste (photos of the adverts are available upon request).