EU Methane Regulation: Climate Action Needs Legal Certainty

Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft supports a joint European statement on the implementation of the EU Methane Regulation. The regulation aims to effectively reduce methane emissions along oil and gas supply chains. In its current form, however, the import requirements risk taking effect sooner than the necessary verification, auditing and certification systems are available internationally. This creates legal uncertainty for energy importers and could make it more difficult to conclude new supply contracts. Dr. Timm Kehler, Chief Executive of Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft, comments:

“ Methane emissions must be effectively reduced. To achieve this, we need clear rules, robust verification and internationally compatible standards. This is precisely where the problem currently lies: the EU is requiring importers to provide evidence for which key methodologies, implementing acts and auditing capacities are not yet sufficiently in place. Anyone seeking to reconcile security of supply, affordable energy and climate action must not put companies in a position where they can, in practice, hardly act with legal certainty.

The recommendations announced by the European Commission are a first step, but they do not provide sufficient legal certainty. What is needed is a targeted adjustment of the implementation timeline for the import requirements under the EU Methane Regulation. The requirements should take effect when they can also be fulfilled in practice. This would strengthen the credibility of European climate policy while at the same time safeguarding Europe’s supply of gas and oil in a geopolitical environment that remains tense.”