Reducing Methane Emissions: a key component of the EU Green Deal

By Tom Carter, Senior Associate

The European Commission has drafted a strategy to reduce methane emissions across Europe. While not as plentiful as carbon dioxide, each molecule of methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 and is, therefore, the second biggest contributor to anthropogenic climate change. Methane is also a toxic local air pollutant that can cause acute health problems. So reducing methane emissions is a critical element of the EU’s goals for 2050 climate neutrality, 55% greenhouse gas reduction by 2030, and zero-pollution. All of these targets are important components of the European Green Deal. 

This strategy includes legislative and non-legislative actions related to energy, agriculture and waste management, reaching beyond Europe by ensuring supply chain reductions. It also calls for improved measurement and reporting of methane emissions. These will all contribute to reducing not only European methane emissions total global greenhouse gases. 

A key step towards reducing methane in the energy sector will be to prohibit flaring and off gassing of methane in most circumstances. Curbing agricultural emissions will require greater monitoring, education, and two-way information sharing. Waste emissions can be sharply reduced by harnessing landfill gas. 

Read more about our perspective on the EU Green Deal here.