Smart methane policy to reduce EU emissions

The Clean Air Task Force proposes a comprehensive methane reduction strategy for the EU centered on five pillars: mandatory Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs, a ban on routine venting and flaring, rigorous Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, strict import standards for fossil fuels, and a dedicated program to seal abandoned oil and gas wells.

• The EU could implement a comprehensive Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) program in less than two years because no new technology or data are required. Such a program should mandate instrument-based leak detection monthly or quarterly, which could reduce leak emissions by approximately 90% and 80% respectively, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.
• Routine venting and flaring should be banned except for safety, emergencies, or cases where capture is technically impossible or extraordinarily costly. In scenarios where the choice is between venting and flaring, operators should be required to flare. The document cites Norway's ban as a model, which includes taxes on flaring and mandatory public reporting.
• A robust Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system is needed to address the fact that global anthropogenic fossil methane emissions may be up to 40% higher than reported. The proposed EU approach involves a two-step process: first, implementing monitoring based on equipment surveys and emission factors within six months of legislation, and second, making facility-level measurement data (via satellite, aerial, and ground technologies) compulsory within two years.
• Because the EU imports over 80% of its gas and 90% of its oil, internal regulations alone are insufficient. The EU should apply LDAR and venting/flaring bans to imports across the full value chain to the point of production to address the global emissions driven by EU demand and ensure a level playing field for companies.
• A dedicated program is required to find, seal, and monitor abandoned and unused oil and gas wells in Europe, some of which date back to the 1850s. The document suggests the European Commission provide funding for wells without legal ownership, citing a Canadian federal government initiative of $1.7 billion (Canadian) for orphaned wells as a potential inspiration.

APA

andi_5ive (2021). Smart methane policy to reduce EU emissions. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2021/08/smart-methane-policy-europe-eu/

Chicago

andi_5ive. Smart methane policy to reduce EU emissions. Clean Air Task Force, 2021. https://www.catf.us/2021/08/smart-methane-policy-europe-eu/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=andi_5ive |title=Smart methane policy to reduce EU emissions |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=27 August 2021 |url=https://www.catf.us/2021/08/smart-methane-policy-europe-eu/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{andi5ive2021smart, author = {andi\_5ive}, title = {{Smart methane policy to reduce EU emissions}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2021}, month = aug, url = {https://www.catf.us/2021/08/smart-methane-policy-europe-eu/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }