Baku, 13 November 2024
At COP29 in Baku, the European Commission has launched a new Methane Abatement Partnership Roadmap to further accelerate the reduction of methane emissions associated with fossil energy production and consumption, in collaboration with partner countries, the International Energy Agency and a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This new Roadmap provides a blueprint for cooperation between fossil fuel importing and exporting countries, which will support companies in improving their monitoring, reporting and verification systems to reduce methane emissions.
Launching the Partnership Roadmap at an event yesterday, Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, said:
“Reducing methane emissions from the energy sector is a low-hanging fruit for climate action. It makes economic sense. It indeed helps boost our energy security while reducing emissions. The Roadmap we are launching today shows the way ahead in terms of fostering cooperation between importing and exporting countries. For the EU, it is clear: we will only be able to tackle methane emissions effectively if we work together across global supply chains with everyone involved.”
Under the Global Methane Pledge, launched by the EU and the US, more than 150 countries are now implementing a collective goal of reducing global anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, from 2020 levels. This new Roadmap sets out a series of concrete actions to be undertaken, including a robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system building on the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) principles, as well as a project plan to abate emissions from existing assets, providing a clear timeline, investment plan and human resource needs.
These partnerships to accelerate the mitigation of methane emissions were announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at COP28 in Dubai and build on the ‘Joint Declaration from Energy Importers and Exporters on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Fossil Fuels’ signed by the European Union, the United States, Japan, Canada, Norway and Singapore at COP27. Following the launch of the Roadmap, the first examples of partnership implementation will be showcased at COP30 in Brazil.
Further information is available here.
Opening remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the US-China-COP29 Summit on Methane and non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases
Baku, 12 November 2024
“Check against delivery”
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first of all thank our hosts – the COP29 Presidency of Azerbaijan, China, and the United States – for organising this Summit on Methane and Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases.
It is absolutely crucial to have an event to exchange with our partners on new steps that can reduce methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases, and identify a common path forward – especially in the follow-up to the unprecedented COP28 outcome.
It is only three years ago that we launched the Global Methane Pledge, co-led by the EU and the US.
Much has already been done: the Global Methane Pledge has truly been a catalyst for action and I would like to thank all of our partners for making this global momentum possible.
But there is a BUT: we have also seen that our efforts so far are simply not sufficient: Methane emissions continue to increase and we have six years left to turn our commitments into action.
Let me briefly present the EU’s continued commitment to implementing the Global Methane Pledge as well as actions and goals on including all greenhouse gases in the overall NDC target.
First, I am proud to announce the publication of the Methane Abatement Partnership Roadmap. What it does is it provides a globally adaptable, step-by step blueprint for the implementation of importer-exporter partnerships that can contribute to the reduction of methane emissions. The European Commission is launching this Roadmap with a number of supportive countries, including the US and Japan, as well as organisations, such as the IEA and OECD. I am very much looking forward to jointly working on first implementation examples for COP30.
Secondly, on the commitment within the EU that is particularly reflected in the recently adopted EU Methane Regulation, the first in the world to regulate methane emissions also from imports, and that entered into force on August 4th of this year. We are setting requirements and transparency tools that will help to provide accurate and transparent information to guide purchase of fossil fuel in the coming years while we transition away from them. The International Methane Emissions Observatory is an important partner in this regard. Alignment with other major importers on data collection and transparency standards in our view is also key. A good example for this is our strong cooperation with Japan, reflected in the announcement of our “LNG importers’ initiative alliance for methane mitigation” just a month ago.
Thirdly, on fluorinated greenhouse gases. New and more ambitious EU regulation has entered into force in March of this year. We will be phasing out new use of hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs, by 2050. It is already in 2030 that we plan to reduce such use by 95% compared to 2015. Like this, we will be overachieving our commitment on HFCs under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. We are also doing this because it is actually feasible at very low costs. We strongly encourage all other countries to strengthen their HFC policies. If this is done in a manner that makes the equipment using HFC gases energy efficient, it is providing all of us with a win-win. We could also consider to formally adopt a more ambitious phase-down of HFCs under the Montreal Protocol.
We encourage other countries to have strict policies on what is the worst climate gas known, the SF6, that is currently being used, in particular in the electrical switchgear.
These are low hanging fruits. If we are all moving in the same direction, they become even lower. Moreover, it is needed in any event to keep the temperature rise down.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me conclude by stressing once again the great importance of joining forces and working closely together in advancing the transitioning away from fossil fuels. That was, is and should be our commitment.
These gatherings are essential to advance multilateral dialogue, foster collaboration, and promote alignment on reducing methane emissions – thank you once again to all the organisers.
Speech video: EC AV PORTAL (europa.eu)
Source – EU Commission