Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: the Commission Approves the EU’s Methane Strategy as Part of the European Green Deal

The European Commission today presented the EU strategy for reducing methane emissions. Methane is the second largest contributor to climate change, after carbon dioxide. It is also a potent local air pollutant that causes serious health problems. Therefore, addressing methane emissions is essential both for achieving our 2030 climate targets and the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, as well as contributing to the Commission’s zero pollution ambition.
This strategy sets out measures to reduce methane emissions in Europe and at the international level. It presents legislative and non-legislative actions in the energy, agriculture and waste sectors, which account for about 95% of methane emissions associated with human activity globally. The Commission will work with the EU’s international partners and industry to achieve emission reductions along the supply chain.
One of the priorities of the strategy is to improve the measurement and reporting of methane emissions. Currently, the level of monitoring varies, both between sectors and between Member States as well as across the international community. In addition to measures to strengthen measurement, verification and reporting standards at EU level, the Commission will support the creation of an international methane emissions observatory in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency. The EU’s Copernicus satellite program will also contribute to improving surveillance and detecting global “super-emitters” and significant methane leaks.