{"id":42670,"date":"2020-10-14T17:11:59","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T16:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/?p=42670"},"modified":"2020-10-14T19:32:28","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T18:32:28","slug":"eu-considers-crackdown-methane-leaks-imported-oil-gas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2020\/10\/14\/eu-considers-crackdown-methane-leaks-imported-oil-gas\/","title":{"rendered":"EU considers crackdown on methane leaks from imported oil and gas"},"content":{"rendered":"

The European Union is considering imposing binding methane emissions standards on oil and gas imports, as well as making fossil fuel companies report and repair methane leaks.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In its <\/span>methane strategy<\/span><\/a> published on Wednesday, the European Commission declared a commitment to tackling emissions from methane, which is the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Commission will examine options as regards possible methane emission reduction targets or standards or other incentives on fossil energy consumed and imported in the EU in the absence of significant commitments from international partners,\u201d the strategy states.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EU standards would put pressure on suppliers like Russia, Algeria and Gulf states to take methane emissions seriously. That could significantly impact global methane emissions, as the EU is the world’s largest importer of fossil gas.<\/p>\n

Methane, which is released into the atmosphere from abandoned coal mines, farming and leaky oil and gas pipes, has a global warming impact 84 times higher than CO2 over a 20-year period. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Commission said it planned to introduce legislation requiring oil and gas companies to report methane emissions and repair leaks.<\/span> It will consider banning flaring and venting, which involve burning methane or directly releasing the potent gas into the atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The Commission will deliver legislative proposals in 2021 on compulsory measurement, reporting, and verification for all energy-related methane emissions and on an obligation to improve leak detection and repair of leaks on all fossil gas infrastructure,\u201d a statement read.<\/a><\/p>\n

IEA<\/strong> outlines how world can reach net zero emissions by 2050<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The oil and gas industry could achieve a 75% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 using current technology, according to the International Energy Agency<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Methane emissions are rising rapidly, with <\/span>new satellite data from technology company Kayrros<\/span><\/a> revealing that large leaks have increased by 32% in the past year. According to Kayrros, there are around 100 high-volume leaks happening around the world at any one time. Half of these methane hotspots occur in regions with coal mining and oil and gas industries. One of the worst culprits is Russia – Europe’s largest supplier of natural gas.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson tweeted a map of the findings, saying it “shows what we want to fix with #MethaneStrategy”.<\/p>\n

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#Methane<\/a> hotspots can be seen from space\ud83c\udf0d! At least by satellites like Sentinel-5P. This map shows what we want to fix with #MethaneStrategy<\/a>! Technology to facilitate the strategy already exists thanks to #EU<\/a>\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfalong-term investments in satellite programs. #Copernicus<\/a> #Horizon2020<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/EmnDzJ1t1n<\/a><\/p>\n

— Kadri Simson (@KadriSimson) October 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n