Hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package

ClientEarth argues that the EU is overinvesting in methane gas infrastructure and urges the Commission to implement a methane product standard by 2025 to integrate climate costs into gas prices. The document recommends that public financial support for methane gas or gas-derived hydrogen be precluded or strictly conditioned on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and lifecycle emission caps. It further calls for institutional reform to ensure independent energy system planning, the prioritisation of energy efficiency over new infrastructure, and the cessation of the term 'natural gas' to avoid greenwashing.

• The EU's proposed 55% emissions reduction target for 2030 necessitates a reduction in methane gas consumption of 29-37% by 2030 compared to 2015 levels, with consumption falling to negligible levels by 2050.
• Evidence suggests the EU has already overinvested in gas infrastructure; one report indicates that building all gas infrastructure currently in construction or preconstruction would increase the EU's current gas import capacity of 707 bcm per year by more than 30%.
• ClientEarth proposes a phased methane product standard by 2025 to limit lifecycle emissions, suggesting initial targets of 0.2% for upstream emissions and 0.12% for distribution-level emissions.
• Public financial support for methane gas or gas-derived hydrogen should be avoided; if granted, it must be contingent on mandatory CCS for all generation facilities, independently assessed carbon storage plans, and binding transition dates to renewable gases.
• To prevent 'gas lock-in' and ensure competition, the EU should reform governance to establish independent oversight of energy system planning and prioritise energy efficiency and demand response over new infrastructure.
• The document recommends that the EU Commission stop using the term 'natural gas' in official communications and legislation to prevent greenwashing, suggesting 'fossil gas' or 'methane gas' as alternatives.

APA

ClientEarth (2021). Hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package. https://www.clientearth.org/media/11vjukov/hydrogen-and-gas-market-decarbonisation-package-clientearth-response-to-combined-roadmap-iia.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package. 2021. https://www.clientearth.org/media/11vjukov/hydrogen-and-gas-market-decarbonisation-package-clientearth-response-to-combined-roadmap-iia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package |date=March 2021 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/11vjukov/hydrogen-and-gas-market-decarbonisation-package-clientearth-response-to-combined-roadmap-iia.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2021hydrogen, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/11vjukov/hydrogen-and-gas-market-decarbonisation-package-clientearth-response-to-combined-roadmap-iia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }