Clean Air Task Force on the European Commission’s Methane Strategy – What We Know, What Needs To Be Done

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) argues that the European Commission's draft methane strategy is a positive starting point but requires stronger mandatory commitments to be effective. CATF recommends mandatory quarterly leak detection and repair (LDAR), a ban on routine venting and flaring by 2021, and the creation of a mandatory Methane Performance Standard for both domestic and imported gas to ensure the EU meets its climate neutrality goals.

• Strong EU methane standards for domestic and imported gas by 2030 could reduce annual methane emissions by over five million tons, which would have a warming reduction effect equivalent to replacing approximately 120 coal-fired power plants with carbon-free generation.
• While the European Commission intends to introduce legislation for leak detection and repair (LDAR) and monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) in Q2 2021, CATF asserts that LDAR must be mandatory and occur at least quarterly, and MRV should transition to actual measurement data within two years.
• CATF argues that the Commission should commit to a ban on routine venting and flaring within one year, rather than leaving it as a possibility for 2025, and should require the replacement of equipment designed to vent gas.
• The leaked draft strategy's proposal of a methane supply index is viewed as insufficient; CATF recommends a mandatory Methane Performance Standard covering the entire supply chain for all gas sold in the EU, including imports.
• Global methane emissions have risen by 50 million metric tons since 2000, with fossil fuel production contributing more than 30 percent of that total, or approximately 16 million metric tons.

APA

Banks, J. (2020). Clean Air Task Force on the European Commission’s Methane Strategy – What We Know, What Needs To Be Done. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2020/10/clean-air-task-force-on-the-european-commissions-methane-strategy/

Chicago

Banks, Jonathan. Clean Air Task Force on the European Commission’s Methane Strategy – What We Know, What Needs To Be Done. Clean Air Task Force, 2020. https://www.catf.us/2020/10/clean-air-task-force-on-the-european-commissions-methane-strategy/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Banks |first1=Jonathan |title=Clean Air Task Force on the European Commission’s Methane Strategy – What We Know, What Needs To Be Done |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=12 October 2020 |url=https://www.catf.us/2020/10/clean-air-task-force-on-the-european-commissions-methane-strategy/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{banks2020clean, author = {Banks, Jonathan}, title = {{Clean Air Task Force on the European Commission’s Methane Strategy – What We Know, What Needs To Be Done}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2020}, month = oct, url = {https://www.catf.us/2020/10/clean-air-task-force-on-the-european-commissions-methane-strategy/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }