On Thursday 21 October, MEPs adopted by a large majority (563 votes in favour, 122 against and 11 abstentions) an own-initiative report by María Spyráki (EPP, Greece) calling for binding targets for measuring and reducing methane (CH4) emissions in order to meet the EU’s climate goals and improve air quality.
Emissions of methane, the second most important greenhouse gas contributing to climate change after CO2, come mainly from the agriculture, waste, and energy sectors.
“Methane emission reduction complements the necessary reductions in carbon dioxide emissions”, Mrs Spyráki said in a debate on the eve of the vote.
In addition to binding emission measurement and reduction targets, MEPs are calling for a binding global agreement on methane at the 26th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), to be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November.
Energy
Given that the EU imports more than 80% of the oil and gas it consumes, MEPs want the forthcoming methane legislation (a legislative initiative is scheduled for 14 December) to cover the whole supply chain in the energy and petrochemical sectors.
They call for all fossil fuel imports to be made conditional on compliance with EU methane regulations.
The report also stresses that “fossil fuels have no long-term role in the EU’s energy mix”, but does not set a date for disengagement from these energy sources.
Agriculture
On methane emissions from agriculture, MEPs call for new measures in Member States to limit these emissions while ensuring that food production is not simply moved outside the EU.
They also insist that imports from third countries should meet the same high standards as in the EU.
Waste sector
Moreover, the report calls on the European Commission to set binding EU targets for commercial and industrial waste and to propose targets for capping the generation of residual waste during the revision of the Waste Directive and the Landfill Directive, planned for 2024.
Participating in the debate, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson did not comment on the call for binding emission reduction targets or on the call for fossil fuel imports.
However, she recalled that the European Commission intends to establish binding rules on the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of methane emissions, as well as on the mandatory detection and repair of leaks, in its legislative proposal due in December.
See the report: https://bit.ly/3C50mfw (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)