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Methane emissions

The EU is a global leader in methane abatement. Our strategy and rules focus on measurement, reporting and verification to further cut methane emissions, both in the EU and globally.

After carbon dioxide, methane is the second greatest contributor to climate change. Methane’s ability to trap heat in the atmosphere is even stronger than that of carbon dioxide.

On a 100-year timescale, methane’s global warming potential is almost 30 times that of carbon dioxide and 82.5 times on a 20-year timescale. This is because methane only lasts around 10-12 years in our atmosphere, while carbon dioxide stays there for millennia.

©AdobeStock / Elonimages

Halting methane emissions doesn’t just stop the increase of methane concentrations in our atmosphere – it can turn it back, buying time for the clean transition. 

Key figures on methane

2nd most important GHG contributor to climate change
60% of the global methane emissions result from human activity
1/3 of this comes from the energy sector

Methane emissions reduction can be cost-effective, and even cost-negative when the captured, non-emitted gas is reused as natural gas.

The International Energy Agency estimates that over 200 billion cubic metres of gas that could be supplied to global markets is lost through flaring, venting, and leaking worldwide every year (Global Methane Tracker 2026). This is enough to cover two-thirds of the EU’s annual consumption. Given the market value of the captured gas, 30% of these mitigations would have no net-cost, and the vast majority would have a very low cost.

EU Methane Regulation

As set out in the EU Methane Strategy (COM/2020/663), the first-ever EU Regulation on reducing methane emissions in the energy sector (EU/2024/1787) entered into force on 4 August 2024. It aims to reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere, both in the EU and in our global supply chains, and to minimise leaks of methane by fossil energy companies operating in the EU.

The main challenge to cutting methane emissions in the energy sector is being able to detect and quantify them. Therefore, the rules focus on measurement, reporting and verification, with strong rules on finding and repairing leaks.

The regulation builds on existing ambitious industry-led standards. Measuring and reporting of methane emissions build on the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 framework, which already covers 42% of global oil and gas production.

Methane Transparency Database

In accordance with the regulation, the Commission is preparing the Methane Transparency Database, including the collection of information and the finalisation of its design.

Oil and gas

Within the EU, companies are required to frequently survey their equipment to detect leaks. If found, they need to be repaired immediately, mostly within 5 or 15 working days, and monitored to ensure that repairs are successful.

The regulation bans the routine release of methane into the air (“venting”) and routine burning of methane (“flaring”). It allows flaring only if re-injection, utilisation on-site or transport of the methane to a market are not technically feasible, with more restrictive rules for how it can be carried out. It also requires EU countries to identify and reduce emissions from closed and abandoned oil and gas wells.

Coal

The regulation envisages a phase-out of venting and flaring of methane within the EU, ensuring that safety aspects in coal mines are accounted for. 

It also requires EU countries to identify and establish mitigation plans in the case of abandoned coal mines and inactive oil and fossil gas wells.

Imports

The regulation phases-in a number of requirements for importers over time. To support importers and producers in non-EU countries on compliance of these rules, the Commission published a ‘guidance tool’ in March 2026 – last updated on 22 September 2026. Once integrated into the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, these provisions are not expected to apply to imports from EEA countries.

Guidance on importer requirements

Enforcement, decisions around compliance, and reporting for much of the regulation, including the international dimension, falls upon National Competent Authorities in each EU country. Non-compliance is subject to penalties set out in each EU country.

On 20 July 2026, the Commission published a Recommendation on optional model clauses on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector (EU/2026/1834) and a Recommendation on the application of penalties in relation to obligations of importers (EU/ 2026/1835). These 2 recommendations help establish a clear, predictable and reliable framework for the effective implementation of the regulation, while preserving the EU’s security of supply.

Methane Expert Group

The Commission established in 2025 an expert group that serves as the Network of National Competent Authorities to provide a platform for the Commission and EU countries to exchange best practices and to discuss the implementation of the regulation. 

Global Methane Pledge

The Commission and the U.S. launched the Global Methane Pledge in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow to slash methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Canada took over from the U.S. as co-convenor in 2025.

Since its launch, the pledge has generated unprecedented momentum for methane action with 160 country endorsements by November 2024, as well as increasing national action roadmaps and regulations being adopted.

This video was produced for COP28 in December 2023 and explains the objectives of the Global Methane Pledge.
©European Union, 2023

The pledge has served as the focal point for global methane action since COP26. Key milestones include the Methane Finance Sprint at COP28, which mobilised €175 million for EU methane initiatives and over USD 1 billion in total, as well as the launch of the Methane Abatement Partnership Roadmap at COP29.

The Global Methane Status Report, launched in 2025 at the COP30 Global Methane Pledge Ministerial in Belém in 2025, shows that despite considerable progress since the pledge was launched, more work is required to align with its level of ambition. Led by the United Kingdom and signed by 7 countries, the Commission supported a statement on drastically reducing methane emissions in global fossil fuel sector, reinforcing a shared commitment to achieve near zero methane emissions across the fossil fuel sector. The statement was also supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE). 

In June 2026, as co-convenors of the GMP, the EU and Canada welcomed the Call to Action on methane by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres. The actions outlined in the Call are a blueprint for accelerating the methane mitigation efforts needed to reach the GMP 2030 target.

Partners and initiatives

Next to co-leading the Global Methane Pledge, international cooperation and alignment on mitigation strategies is reflected in all of the EU’s bilateral and multilateral engagements. This includes strengthening importer-exporter cooperation as well as alignment with international organisations, NGOs and financial institutions.

Cooperation with major fossil fuel importers

As a large fossil fuel importer, the EU has a responsibility and opportunity to incentivise methane abatement measures across the supply chains. Cooperation with other major importers can also send a powerful political signal to motivate further action. 

After the Joint Statement on ‘Accelerating methane mitigation from the LNG value chain’ signed by the Commission, Japan, the U.S., Australia and South Korea in 2023, Japan and the Commission have strengthened their cooperation on the implementation of Global Methane Pledge targets. This is reflected in their LNG importers’ initiative alliance for methane mitigation from the LNG value chain announced at the LNG-Producer Consumer Conference in 2024, striving for alignment on data transparency, monitoring and reporting standards as well as mitigation action in exporting countries. 

International Methane Emission Observatory

The Commission supported the establishment of the International Methane Emission Observatory (IMEO) in 2021, together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Energy Agency.

UNEP’s IMEO provides data to the individuals who can act to reduce emissions. To do this, IMEO collects and publishes data through rigorous industry reporting via the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), from satellites via the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), from its series of global methane science studies, and from national emissions inventories. The IMEO launched its ‘An Eye on Methane’ data platform in November 2024. Building on both OGMP 2.0 and MARS, the observatory is working on the development of a Methane Supply Index of the emission intensity of global oil and gas production to be used by market participants to make purchasing choices based on emissions.

At COP29, the Commission co-hosted the first ever IMEO Ministerial, reaffirming donors’ strong political and financial support to data driven solutions to catalyse methane reductions. 

Climate and Clean Air Coalition

The EU is actively involved in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), established under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The CCAC acts as the Global Methane Pledge Secretariat and works to tackle short-lived climate pollutants, such as methane and black carbon, to combat climate change and improve local air quality.

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