Press release: 14 October 2020

EU Commission presents its plan to tackle methane emissions – ClientEarth reaction

The European Commission presented today an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions. Methane is the second biggest contributor to climate change, after carbon dioxide.

Charlotte Hanson, energy lawyer at ClientEarth, said: “Leaked methane from the oil and gas sector is a significant but under-discussed contributor to climate change. The EU’s intention to introduce methane import standards for fossil energy is a vital step towards regulating these emissions from the oil and gas sector.

“This intention must be swiftly translated into effective legislation. The EU must act quickly to introduce methane standards to ensure energy system plans reflect the true climate cost of these fossil fuels.”

ENDS

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth is a charity that uses the power of the law to protect people and the planet. We are international lawyers finding practical solutions for the world’s biggest environmental challenges. We are fighting climate change, protecting oceans and wildlife, making forest governance stronger, greening energy, making business more responsible and pushing for government transparency. We believe the law is a tool for positive change. From our offices in London, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlin and Beijing, we work on laws throughout their lifetime, from the earliest stages to implementation. And when those laws are broken, we go to court to enforce them.