Twelve organisations call on European Commission to propose regulatory framework covering imports in relation to methane emissions

A group of twelve NGOs and think tanks including Transport&Environment, Ember and Food & Water Action Europe have sent a letter to the European Commission on Monday 11 October urging it to propose an extended regulatory framework for fossil fuel imports in order to tackle energy-related methane (CH₄) emissions.

While the European Commission plans to present a legislative initiative to reduce CH₄ emissions in this sector in December (see EUROPE 12653/21), the signatory organisations fear that the institution is suggesting that this regulatory framework should only be applied within the EU.

However, 90% of the fossil gas, 97% of the oil and over 40% of the coal consumed within the EU is imported. As with MEPs (see EUROPE 12798/12), the organisations therefore want the Commission's future legislative initiative to cover the entire supply chain of fossil fuels consumed within the EU.

While they welcome diplomatic efforts to promote international initiatives to deal with methane leakage, such as the global methane commitment launched by the EU and the USA (see EUROPE 12809/8), the signatory organisations believe that these actions will not be enough to ensure reductions in methane emissions throughout the supply chain.

They are arguing that these efforts “should not replace concrete EU regulatory measures on imports”.

See the letter on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3DNWqk3 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)