Lawmakers Push for Consistent Standards
Starting January 2027, companies importing oil and gas into the European Union will be required to meet strict monitoring, reporting, and verification standards for methane emissions. A group of 24 US lawmakers has now urged the EU not to grant exemptions to American energy producers if domestic standards are weak or poorly enforced.
In a letter obtained by Euronews, the lawmakers described the EU’s methane rules as a “critical tool” to prevent the wasteful venting and flaring of natural gas. Methane is a short-lived but extremely potent greenhouse gas—up to 30 times more damaging than carbon dioxide in the short term. The lawmakers stressed that consistent rules for all exporters are essential to reduce trade barriers and reward companies that invest in technologies to curb emissions.
EU Offers Implementation Options, Not Loopholes
The European Commission recently outlined ways to simplify how the law is applied. Companies can either use third-party certificates to verify emissions at production sites or adopt a digital “trace and claim” system that tracks fuel volumes through the supply chain. However, the Commission emphasized that these measures do not alter the law’s core requirements, and no exemptions are planned.
Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told Euronews: “We are designing a pragmatic and simple implementation, taking security of supply into account. Our focus is on ensuring the law works, and industry has engaged positively.”
US Industry Faces Uncertainty
The US Environmental Protection Agency strengthened methane rules in 2024 to align with EU standards, but in 2025, it delayed reporting requirements and postponed mitigation measures, creating uncertainty for exporters. Environmental groups say the EU regulation gives a competitive edge to companies already measuring and managing methane emissions, while also promoting global efforts to curb the gas.
Jonathan Banks of the Clean Air Task Force called the lawmakers’ letter evidence of a growing “transatlantic and global consensus” to reduce methane. Methane, which comes from fossil fuel production and livestock digestion, is responsible for roughly 30% of global warming since the industrial revolution, according to the International Energy Agency.
