<
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/eu-agrees-law-track-reduce-methane-emissions-oil-gas-sector-2023-11-15/>
'Nov 15 (Reuters) - The European Union reached a deal on Wednesday on a law to
place methane emissions limits on Europe's oil and gas imports from 2030,
pressuring international suppliers to clamp down on leaks of the potent
greenhouse gas.
Methane is the second-biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide, and
in the short term has a far higher warming effect. Rapid cuts in methane
emissions this decade are crucial if the world is to avoid severe climate
change.
After all-night talks, negotiators from EU member states and the European
Parliament agreed to impose "maximum methane intensity values" by 2030 on
producers abroad sending fossil fuels into Europe, the council of the EU, which
represents member states, said in a statement.
The import rules are likely to hit major gas suppliers which include the U.S.,
Algeria and Russia. Moscow slashed deliveries to Europe last year and has since
been replaced as Europe's biggest pipeline gas supplier by Norway, whose supply
has among the world's lowest methane intensity.
"Finally, the EU tackles the second most important greenhouse gas with
ambitious measures," said Jutta Paulus, the EU Parliament's co-lead negotiator,
adding that the law "will have repercussions worldwide".
Paulus told reporters importers will face financial penalties if they buy from
foreign suppliers that don't comply with the limit - effectively imposing a fee
on non-compliant fuels.
The methane standard would be mandatory for supply contracts signed after the
law enters into force, likely later this year, after the European Parliament
and EU countries give it final approval.
That step is usually a formality that waves through pre-agreed deals.'
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-domestic-violence-australia-malaria-rwanda-whales-dominica/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
