ENENEUROPEANCOMMISSIONBrussels,14.10.2020COM(2020)663finalCOMMUNICATIONFROMTHECOMMISSIONTOTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENT,THECOUNCIL,THEEUROPEANECONOMICANDSOCIALCOMMITTEEANDTHECOMMITTEEOFTHEREGIONSonanEUstrategytoreducemethaneemissions1I.INTRODUCTIONMethaneisapowerfulgreenhousegas,secondonlytocarbondioxideinitsoverallcontributiontoclimatechange.Onamolecularlevel,methaneismorepowerfulthancarbondioxide.Althoughitremainsforashortertimeintheatmosphere,ithasasignificanteffectontheclimate1andcontributestotroposphericozoneformation,apotentlocalairpollutantwhichitselfcausesserioushealthproblems2.Reducingmethaneemissionsthereforecontributestobothslowingdownclimatechangeaswellasimprovingairquality.Significantportionsofmethaneemissionscanbemitigatedcost-effectively.TheRegulationontheGovernanceoftheEnergyUnionandClimateAction3callsontheCommissiontodeliverastrategicplanforreducingmethaneemissions.Furthermore,intheEuropeanGreenDealCommunication4,theCommissionindicatedthatenergy-relatedmethaneemissionsneededtobeaddressedaspartofthecommitmenttoreachclimateneutralityby2050.Inthisway,policyactiontoreducemethaneemissionswillcontributetoboththeEU’sdecarbonisationeffortstowardsthe2030ClimateTargetPlanandtheEU’szero-pollutionambitionforatoxic-freeenvironment.Currentpoliciesfornon-CO2emissionsareprojectedtoreducemethaneemissionsintheEUby29%by2030comparedto2005levels5.Nevertheless,the2030climatetargetplan’simpactassessment6foundmethanewillcontinuetobetheEU’sdominantnon-CO2greenhouse7.Itconcludedthatsteppingupthelevelofambitionforreductionsingreenhouse-gasemissionstoatleast55%by2030comparedto1990wouldalsorequireanacceleratedefforttotacklemethaneemissions,withprojectionsindicatingastepupneededto35%to37%methaneemissionreductionsby2030comparedto2005.Atagloballevel,reducingmethaneemissionsassociatedwithhuman(anthropogenic)activityby50%overthenext30yearscouldreduceglobaltemperaturechangeby0.18degreesCelsiusby20508.TheEUhasreductiontargetsfor2030forallgreenhousegases,withanthropogenicmethaneemissionscoveredbybindingnationalemissionreductiontargetsundertheEffortSharingRegulation(ESR)9.However,thereiscurrentlynopolicydedicatedtothereductionofanthropogenicmethaneemissions.Approximately41%ofglobalmethaneemissionscomefromnaturalsources(biogenic),likewetlandsorwildfires10.Theremaining59%are1IPCCAR5,(2014).IPCC,2013:ClimateChange2013:ThePhysicalScienceBasis.ContributionofWorkingGroupItotheFifthAssessmentReportoftheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange.2EuropeanEnvironmentAgency(EEA),(2016).Prematuredeathsattributabletoairpollution(EU28).https://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/many-europeans-still-exposed-to-air-pollution-2015/premature-deaths-attributable-to-air-pollution.IntheEU,prematuredeathsduetoozoneexposureareestimatedatbetween14,000and16,000peryearfortheyears2015to2017.JRCmodellingresultsestimatethatby2030,dependingonlevelsofmethaneconcentrations,thedifferenceinassociatedprematuredeathswouldbebetween1,800and4,000,annually.Theseresultsarelikelyunder-estimatesastheydonottakeintoaccountrecentre-evaluationsofmortalityrisksassociatedwithlong-termozoneexposure,whichsuggestafactor2.3timeshigher.3(EU)2018/1999.4COM(2019)640final.5EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:749e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF.6EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:749e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF.7Significantquantitiesofnon-CO2greenhousegasesarestillbeingemittedintheEUtoday,representingaround20%oftotalemissions.In2015,methanerepresentedaround60%oftotalnon-CO2greenhousegasemission,followedbynitrousoxidesandF-gasemissions(EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment).8ClimateandCleanAirCoalitionScientificAdvisoryPanel,(2020).9Regulation,(EU)2018/842.10InternationalEnergyAgency(IEA),WorldEnergyOutlook,(2018),https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=50_GHG.2anthropogenic,ofwhichthelargestsourcesareagriculture(40-53%)–inparticularlinkedtointensiveproduction,fossilfuelproductionanduse(19-30%),andwaste(20-26%).IntheEU,53%ofanthropogenicmethaneemissionscomefromagriculture,26%fromwasteand19%fromenergy11.Thereporteddistributionofemissionspersectorcontinuestoevolveasreportinganddatacollectionimprove.Nevertheless,thesethreesectorsaccountforupto95%ofglobalanthropogenicmethaneemissions,andshouldthereforebethefocusofmitigatingaction12.TheEUshouldalsoplayaroleinensuringmethaneemissionreductionsatgloballevel.WhiletheEUcontributesonlyto5%ofglobalmethaneemissions13,itcanuseitspositionasthelargestglobalimporteroffossilfuelsandasastrongplayerintheagriculturesectortosupportsimilaractionfromglobalpartners.TheEUisalsoatechnicalleaderinsatelliteimageryandmethaneemissionleakdetectionthroughtheCopernicusprogramandcanleadinternationalcollaborationtoimprovethemonitoringandmitigationofglobalmethaneemissions.TheCommunicationsetsoutastrategyforreducingmethaneemissions.Itoutlinesacomprehensivepolicyframeworkcombiningconcretecross-sectoralandsector-specificactionswithintheEU,aswellaspromotingsimilaractioninternationally.Whileintheshort-term,thestrategyencouragesgloballevelvoluntaryandbusiness-ledinitiativestoimmediatelyclosethegapintermsofemissionsmonitoringverificationandreporting,aswellasreducemethaneemissionsinallsectors,itforeseesEUlevellegislativeproposalsin2021toensurewidespreadandtimelycontributionstowardstheEUdecarbonisationobjectives.II.ANEWSTRATEGYTOREDUCEMETHANEEMISSIONS:COMBININGCROSS-SECTORANDSECTOR-SPECIFICACTIONSTheEUfirstaddressedmethaneemissionswithastrategyadoptedin199614.Inthefollowingyears,theEUadoptedregulatoryinitiativesthatcontributedtomethaneemissionreductionsinkeysectors15.Relativeto1990levels,energy-sectormethaneemissionshavehalved,whileemissionsfromwasteandagriculturehavefallenbyathirdandjustoverafifthrespectively16.Nevertheless,methaneemissionsremainasignificantchallengeineachofthesesectors.Intheenergysector,methaneleaksfromfossilfuelproductionsites,transmissionsystems,shipsanddistributionsystems.Methaneisalsovented(releasedintentionally)intotheatmosphere.Evenwhenflared(burnt),carbondioxideisreleasedandmethanecanstillescapeduringflaringasaresultofincompletecombustion17.Accordingtocurrentestimates,54%of11EuropeanEnvironmentAgency(EEA),(2018).EEAgreenhousegas-dataviewer.https://www.eea.europa.eu/ds_resolveuid/f4269fac-662f-4ba0-a416-c25373823292.12ClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)ScientificAdvisoryPanel,(2020).13ClimateWatchData,(2016).14Strategypaperforreducingmethaneemissions.CommunicationfromtheCommissiontotheCouncilandtotheEuropeanParliament.COM(96)557final,15November1996.15Suchasinthewastesector-toaddresssitemanagement,includinglandfillgas–butwhichalsocontributedtomitigatingmethaneemissions.Also,methaneemissionsarecoveredbythebindingnationalgreenhousegastargetssetundertheeffortsharinglegislation(DecisionNo.406/2009/EC).16IndepthanalysisinsupportoftheCommissionCommunicationCOM(2018)77317Flaringandventingoccursatcoal,oilandfossilgasproductionsites.Italsooccurs(toamuchlesserextent)atlandfillgasandbiogasfacilities.Flaringisthecontrolledburningofgasesproducedorreleasedinassociationwith:fossil-fuelextractionandtransportation;andcertainagriculturalandwastepractices.Ventingisthecontrolledreleaseofunburnedgasesdirectlyintotheatmosphere.Ventingisarguablymoreharmfultotheenvironmentasthereleasedgastypicallycontainshigh-levelsofCH4,whereasflaringconvertstheCH4intoless3methaneemissionsintheenergysectorarefugitiveemissionsfromtheoilandgassector,34%fugitiveemissionsfromthecoalsectorand11%fromresidentialandotherfinalsectors18.TheEU’sclimatetargetplanimpactassessmentindicatesthatthemostcost-effectivemethaneemissionsavingscanbeachievedintheenergysector.Upstreamoilandgasoperationsgenerallyhaveavarietyofmitigationoptionsthathavenonetcosts19,ornearzerocosts20.Agricultureisthesecondsectorwiththehighestpotentialinoverallbenefitsforreducingmethaneemissions21.Therearealsopotentialsynergiesandtrade-offsformitigatingthecostofemissionreductionsinagriculturethroughthereductionofnutrientlossesinanimalfeedbyentericfermentation22andbyproducingbiogas23.Methaneemissionsfromlivestockoriginatemainlyfromruminantspecies(entericfermentation)(80.7%),manuremanagement(17.4%),andricecultivation(1.2%).Sourcesofmethaneemissionsareoftendiffuseintheagriculturesector,whichcanmakemeasurement,reportingandverificationchallenging.TheyalsodiffernoticeablyacrosstheEU.Nevertheless,technologicallyfeasiblemitigationpracticesdoexist,andtheirdeploymentshouldbefacilitated,alongwithreportingontheireffects.Inthewastesector,themainidentifiedsourcesofmethaneareuncontrolledemissionsoflandfillgasinlandfillsites,thetreatmentofsewagesludgeandleaksfrombiogasplantsduetopoordesignormaintenance.Emissionsfromthelandfillingofwastefellby47%between1990and201724,followingbettercompliancewithEUwastelegislationonemissionsfromlandfill.Thiswasachievedprimarilybydivertingbiodegradablewastetootherwaste-treatmentoptionshigherinthewastehierarchy25suchascompostingandanaerobicdigestion,aswellasensuringthestabilisationofbiodegradablewastebeforedisposal.However,morestringentcompliancepracticesareneededtofurtherreducemethaneemissionsfromwaste.AneffectiveEUstrategytoreducemethaneemissionsmustthereforeprovidestrongermeasurestoaddressmethaneemissionsineachsector,butalsotakegreateradvantageofsynergiesacrosssectorsandpolicyareas.Adoptingaholisticapproachbringsclearadvantages,asitallowsformorecost-effectiveandevidence-basedmitigationofmethaneemissions.Italsomakesitpossibletobuildanenablingframeworkandstrengthenthebusinesscaseforcapturingmethaneemissions.Giventhehighshareofmethaneemissionsinagriculturethatresultfromlivestock,lifestyleanddietchangescanalsocontributeharmfulCO2.Nevertheless,theprocessofflaringcanreleaseotheremissionssuchasSO2andNO2which,whencombinedwithmoistureintheatmosphere,canformacidrain.18ClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)ScientificAdvisoryPanel,(2020).19InternationalEnergyAgency(IEA),(2020).MethaneTracker2020,https://www.iea.org/reports/methane-tracker-2020/methane-abatement-options.20EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:749e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF.21EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:749e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF.22Formationofmethanebymicrobesinthegutofanimals.Ruminantanimalsareasubsetofmammalsthatfermentfoodintheir‘rumen’(firststomach)usingbacteria,beforefurtherdigestioninsubsequentstomachs.This‘entericfermentation’generatesmethane,whichtheanimalreleases.ThelargestsourcesofmethaneemissionsintheEUagriculturalsectorarefromcowsandsheep.23[EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:749e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format=PDF.24https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/european-union-greenhouse-gas-inventory-202025‘Thewastehierarchygenerallylaysdownapriorityorderofwhatconstitutesthebestoverallenvironmentaloptioninwastelegislationandpolicy.Furtherdetailsin,Directive2008/98/ECandhttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/framework/4significantlytoreducingEUmethaneemissions.Beyondreducingemissions,thestrategywillalsoprovideforopportunitiestogenerateadditionalrevenuestreamsanddevelopmentandinvestmentinruralareas.1.CROSS-SECTORALACTIONSWITHINTHEEUa.ReportingApriorityobjectiveofthestrategyistoensurethatcompaniesapplyconsiderablymoreaccuratemeasurementandreportingmethodologiesformethaneemissions,acrosssectors,thaniscurrentlythecase.Thiswillcontributetoabetterunderstandingoftheproblemandbetterinformsubsequentmitigationmeasures26.TheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)hasathree-tierreportingframeworkformethaneemissions,whichisapplicableacrossallrelevantemittingsectors.Tier1constitutesthemostbasicapproach,involvingsimpleestimationsbasedonactivitydataandemissionfactors.Tier3isthemostdemandingintermsofmethodologicalcomplexityanddatarequirements,involvingcomplexmodellingbasedonmultipledatasourcesorspecific,individualmeasurement.Tier2isintermediateincomplexityandmaycombineelementsofbothTiers1and3.Currently,thelevelofmonitoringandreportingvariesconsiderablybetweensectorsandMemberStates,withveryfewMemberStatesconsistentlyapplyingTier3standards.OneofthekeyobjectivesofthisstrategyistomakeTier3methanereportingbyenergy,chemicalandagriculturalcompaniesmorewidespreadacrosstheEU,wherepossible.ThiswouldallowMemberStatestomovetohighertierreportingwhensubmittingnationalemissionsdatatotheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC),forexample.Nevertheless,acertainlevelofflexibilityinreportingisrequiredtoaccountforthedifferentchallengestoimprovingmonitoringandreportingacrossthedifferentsectors,aswellastoconcentratereportingeffortsonkeycategoriesofsources,inlinewiththeInternationalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)guidelines27.Intheenergysector,Tier3reportingisachievableforindustryandwillthereforebetheEUtargetstandard.WidespreadadoptionofthemeasurementandreportingframeworkdevelopedundertheClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)OilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP)28willacceleratethistransition(seemoredetailsunderactionsintheenergysection).ThenewOGMPstandard(OGMP2.0)commitsparticipatingcompaniestoincreasetheaccuracyandgranularityoftheirmethaneemissionsreportingforoperatedandnon-operatedassetsin3and5yearsrespectively.Intheagriculturalsector,thechallengesassociatedwithahighernumberofdifferentactorsinvolvedinadjustingtonewtargetsjustifiesatemporaryobjectiveofapplyingTier2approaches,withimprovingdisaggregationofemissionfactorsandafinalobjectiveofachievingTier3.Inthewastesector,thequalityofreportingisalreadyrobustforwaste26Measurement,reporting,verification(MRV),integrityandvalidation(IV).27IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC),2019Refinementtothe2006IPCCGuidelinesforNationalGreenhouseGasInventories,https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2019/12/19R_V0_01_Overview.pdf28ClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)OilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP).https://ccacoalition.org/en/activity/ccac-oil-gas-methane-partnership#:~:text=The%20Climate%20and%20Clean%20Air,New%20York%20in%20September%202014.5disposalinlandfillssites(underthescopeofDirective2010/75/EC29)throughtheEuropeanPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister30.Conversely,asregardsthewastewatersector,improvementsareneeded.b.EstablishinganinternationalmethaneemissionsobservatoryCurrently,thereexistsnoindependent,internationalbodywhichcollectsandverifiesmethaneemissionsdata.InpartnershipwiththeUnitedNationsEnvironmentalProgramme(UNEP),theClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)31andtheInternationalEnergyAgency,theCommissionwillsupporttheestablishmentofanindependentinternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory,taskedwithcollecting,reconciling,verifyingandpublishinganthropogenicmethaneemissionsdataatagloballevel.TheobservatorywouldbeanchoredinaUnitedNationsframework.TheobservatorywouldbuildonanumberofworkstreamssuchastheOilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP)andtheglobalmethanesciencestudies32aspartoftheClimateandCleanAirCoalition.Initially,theobservatorywouldcovermethanefromtheoilandfossilgassectorsasrobustmethodologiesthatcandelivercredibledataarealreadywelldefined,forexamplethroughOGMP2.0.TheCommissionenvisagesextendingthescopeoftheobservatorytocovercoal,wasteandagriculturalactivitiesoncecomparablyreliablemonitoringandreportingmethodologiesareestablishedforthosesectors.Actionstodefinethesemethodologiesshouldstartimmediately.Forthepurposeofdataverificationandreconciliationofenergyrelatedmethaneemissions,companyreportingneedstobecomplementedwithdatafromnationalemissioninventories,scientificresearch,aswellassatelliteobservationsandotherremotesensingtechnologiesverifiedbyground-levelobservations.Theobservatorywouldalsobetaskedwithtestingnewmonitoringandreportingtechnologiesandassessinghowthesetechnologiescouldbeusedwithinexistingmethodologies,aswellasassessingthelevelofimprovementthesetechnologiesprovidetothequalityofdatasubmittedbycompanies.TheCommissionexpectsthattheobservatorywouldhelptoimproveunderstandingofthesourcesofemissionsalsowithinsectors,forexampleregardingdifferencesinmethaneemissionsfromintensivelyrearedlivestockversuspastureraisedlivestock33.TheCommissionisreadytomobilisefundingfromtheHorizon2020programmetokick-starttheestablishmentofsuchaninternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory.IncooperationwiththeUnitedNationsEnvironmentalProgrammeandtheClimateandCleanAirCoalition,the29https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32010L007530https://prtr.eea.europa.eu/#/home31TheClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)isavoluntarypartnershipofgovernments,intergovernmentalorganizations,businesses,scientificinstitutionsandcivilsocietyorganizationscommittedtoimprovingairqualityandprotectingtheclimatethroughactionstoreduceshort-livedclimatepollutants.https://ccacoalition.org/en/content/who-we-are.TheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)istheleadingglobalenvironmentalauthoritythatsetstheglobalenvironmentalagenda,promotesthecoherentimplementationoftheenvironmentaldimensionofsustainabledevelopmentwithintheUnitedNationssystem,andservesasanauthoritativeadvocatefortheglobalenvironment.https://www.unenvironment.org/about-un-environment.32ClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)methanesciencestudieshttps://ccacoalition.org/en/activity/oil-and-gas-methane-science-studies.33Knapp,etal.,(2014).Entericmethaneindairycattleproduction:Quantifyingtheopportunitiesandimpactofreducingemissions,https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S00220302140028966Commissionenvisagesorganisingadonorconferencetoencouragenationalgovernmentstocontributetowardsthefinancingoftheobservatory.c.Satellitedetection,CopernicusandaerialmonitoringTheEU’sCopernicusprogrammeforearthobservationiscontributingtoimprovedindirectairsurveillanceandthemonitoringofmethaneemissions.Inparticular,CopernicuscancontributetoanEU-coordinatedcapabilityfordetectingandmonitoringglobalsuper-emitters34,principallyviaitsCopernicusAtmosphereMonitoringService(CAMS)35.Globally,5%ofmethaneleaksinthecoal,oilandfossilgassectorscontributeto50%oftheenergysector’semissions36andbasedonafirstanalysisofEUemissionsdata,asimilarpatternemergesfortheEU37.Satellitetechnologyiskeytoidentifyingthesehotspotsandguidingleakdetectionandrepaironthegroundaswellasreconcilingbottom-updatafromcompanyreporting.Whenlaunchedin2025,theCopernicusCO2-monitoring(CO2M)mission,whichinvolvesaconstellationofthreesatellites,willsupporttheidentificationofsmallerandmoreprevalentsourcesofemissions.Itwillalsobeabletomonitorglobalatmosphericmethane.ThiswillrepresentsignificantadditionalcapacitytothecapabilitiesoftheCopernicusAtmosphereMonitoringServiceandtheTroposphericMonitoringInstrument(TROPOMI),twoexistingCopernicuscapabilitiesonboardoftheSentinel5Psatellite,thatareabletodetectlargeremissionsources.Improvedtop-downdatafromsatelliteswillhelptotargetbottom-upleakdetectiononthegroundaswellasaerialmonitoring.Therehavebeensignificanttechnologicaladvancesmadeintheseareasinrecentyearswithimprovedaccuracyandcost-effectiveness.Forexample,theuseofdronesmakesitpossibletosurveylargeamountsofinfrastructureandfacilitatesmorewidespreaduseofaerialmonitoringaswellasincreasedfrequency,whichiskeytoaddressingintermittentleaks.Sophisticatedanalyticalprogramsallowforthereconciliationofdataatdifferentlevelsandcanguideabatementefforts.TheCommissionintendstosupportthesharingofinformationandtechnologyacrossstakeholderstoenhanceaccessandcatalyseabatementefforts.d.ReviewandpossiblerevisionsofrelevantenvironmentalandclimatelegislationIntheEuropeanGreenDeal,theCommissionannouncedthatin2021itwouldreviewEUlegislation,withtheoverallaimofdeliveringincreasedclimateambitionascontainedinthe2030climatetargetplanimpactassessment.Anumberofpiecesoflegislationarewithinthescopeofthisreviewwhichhaveabearingonmethaneemissions.ThisincludestheEUEmissionsTradingSystem(ETS)andtheEffortSharingRegulation(ESR),thelattercoveringallmethaneemissionsintheEUnexttoallothergreenhousegasesnotcoveredbythe34Theterm‘super-emitter’inthisgeneralcontextreferstoaspecificsiteorfacilitywithdisproportionatelyhigh-emissionsforasiteorfacilityofthatkind.Inspecificsectors,thereareindividualdefinitionsofsuper-emitters.Forexample,inthefossilgassupplychainthetermcanrefertositeswiththehighestproportionallossrates,i.e.thegreatestlossofmethaneemittedformethaneproduced/processed(Zavala-Araiza,etal.,2015).35CAMSanalysesglobalfluctuationsinmethaneemissionsonadailyandmonthlybasis.Itcanalsoprovidefullemissionsdatasetswithcomparisonsbetweenthemainglobalandregionalinventories.Toderivemoreaccuratedata,CAMSmethaneproductsarereconciledwithotherindependentmeasurementsources,suchassurface-monitoringstations,ships,andaircraftprogrammes.36Brandt,Cooley,Heath,(2016)(DOI:10.1021/acs.est.6b04303).3710-20%ofsitesareresponsiblefor60-90%ofemissions.Source:‘Tacklingenergy-relatedmethaneemissions’,2020.ConsortiumledbyWoodEnvironment&InfrastructureSolutionsGmbH.7emissionstradingsystem.Theassessmentsupportingthe2030climatetargetplanunderlinedthatalsoforthesegasesincreasedincentiveswillberequiredtoreduceemissionsfurther.Theachievementofthisstrengtheningofambitionwillbenefitfromthesectoralactionsinthisstrategy.Revisionofenvironmentallegislationwillincludemeasurestoaddresspollution.TheCommissionwillforinstanceassesswhethertheroleoftheIndustrialEmissionsDirective(IED)38inpreventingandcontrollingmethaneemissionscouldbeenhanced.ThiscouldbebothfromexpandingthescopeoftheIEDtocovermethaneemittingsectorsnotyetincludedinitsscopeandagreaterfocusonmethaneduringthereviewsofBestAvailableTechniques(BAT)ReferenceDocuments(BREF).ThiswouldmeanensuringthattechniquestoreducemethaneemissionsareidentifiedinBREFreviewsandmethaneBAT-associatedemissionlevels(BAT-AELs)areincludedinBATconclusions.TheCommissionwillalsoassessthepotentialtoexpandthesectoralscopeoftheEuropeanPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister(E-PRTR)Regulation39toreportmethaneemissions.TheCommissionwillconsiderincludingmethaneinthezero-pollutionmonitoringframeworktobedevelopedundertheZeroPollutionActionPlanannouncedfor2021andthethirdeditionoftheEUCleanAirOutlookin2022.TheCommissionwillalsoreviewtheNationalEmissionReductionCommitments(NEC)Directiveby2025and,aspartofthisreview,explorethepossibleinclusionofmethaneamongtheregulatedpollutants.e.OpportunitiesinbiogasproductionNon-recyclablehumanandagriculturalwaste(i.e.manure)andresiduestreamscanbeutilisedinanaerobicdigesterstoproducebiogasorinbiorefineriestoproducebio-materialsandintermediatebio-chemicals.Whenusedforbiogasproduction,suchrawmaterialscaneffectivelycontributetowardsreducingmethaneemissionsfromanaerobicdecompositionprocessesinnature.Simultaneously,biogasproductioncanalsogenerateadditionalrevenuestreamsforfarmersandprovideopportunitiesfordevelopmentandinvestmentinruralareas.Tothatend,cooperationwithandamongstfarmersandlocalcommunitiesisessential,withopportunitiestoimprovelocaleconomiesandpromotecircularity.ThiscooperativeapproachinpromotingopportunitiesforruralareaswillalsobepartoftheLongTermVisionforRuralAreastheCommissionwillputforwardin2021.Thebiogasresultingfromsuchfeedstocksisasourceofhighlysustainableandusefulrenewableenergywithmultipleapplications,whilethematerialthatremainsafteranaerobicdigestion(digestate)can,afterfurtherprocessing,beusedasasoilimprover.Thisinturnreducestherequirementforalternativesoilimprovingproducts,suchassyntheticfertilisersoffossilorigin.Moreover,inlinewiththewastehierarchy,thewaste-basedbiodegradableinputintobiorefineriesandbiogasplantscancounttowardsmunicipalwasterecyclingtargetsassetoutinDirective2018/98/EC.TheroleofsustainablebiogasproductionincontributingtotheEU’sdecarbonisationobjectiveshasbeenrecognisedintherecentlypublishedEUstrategiesforenergy-systemintegrationandhydrogen40.AccordingtotheEU’slong-termdecarbonisationstrategy41,by2050,theEU’sannualconsumptionofbiogases(biogasandbiomethane)isprojectedtogrowtobetween54and72Mtoe,fromaround17Mtoein2017.Thisgrowthinproductionwillcontributetowardsthe38Directive2010/75/EU.39Regulation(EC)No166/2006ontheestablishmentofaEuropeanPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister.40COM(2020)299and301;https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_1259.41https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52018DC07738EU’srenewableenergyandclimatetargetsmodelledinthelong-termstrategy.Biogasfromagriculturalwasteorresiduescanalsocost-effectivelymitigatemethaneemissionsintheagricultureandthewastesectors.Conversely,biogasderivedfromfoodorfeedcropsincreasesmethaneemissions,andthuscanunderminethemitigationbenefitsofbiogas.Itisthereforeessentialforbiogasdevelopmentstobebasedprimarilyonwasteorresidues.Thecollectionanduseofhighmethaneemittingorganicwastesorresiduesfromfarmingasbiogassubstratesshouldbefurtherincentivised.Thiscanbeachieved,forexample,throughidentifyingbestpracticesforcollectionand/orharvestingofsustainablewastesandresiduesorbyincentivisingtheuseofdigestateasasustainablesoilimproverinlieuofminedfertilisers.Sequentialcroppingcanalsobeusedincombinationwithmanureasfeedstockforsustainablebiogasproduction,whilecontributingtosustainablefarmingpractices,andassuchcouldalsobefurtherincentivised42.NationalstrategicplansfortheCommonAgriculturalPolicy(CAP),amongotherinstrumentsandinlinewiththeobjectivessetoutinthenationalenergyandclimateplans,shouldencourageanintegratedinterventionthatmayencompasssupportforsuitableagriculturalpractices,sustainableuseofdigestateandnutrientstherein,investmentsinefficientinstallations,andservicessuchasadvisers,trainingandinnovation.TothatendtheCommissionwilladdressthisissueinspecificMemberStaterecommendationsbytheendof2020.AsannouncedintheEUstrategyforenergy-systemintegration27,theCommissionwillre-examinethegasmarketregulatoryframeworktofacilitatetheuptakeofrenewablegases,includingbyconsideringissuessuchastheconnectiontoinfrastructureandthemarketaccessfordistributedandlocallyconnectedproductionofrenewablegases.Inaddition,theupcomingrevisionoftheRenewableEnergyDirectiveinJune2021,willpresentopportunitiesforfurthertargetedsupporttoacceleratethedevelopmentofthemarketforbiogas.Anymeasurestosupportbiogasproductionmustbecarefullyassessedtoavoidperverseincentivesthatcouldleadtoanoverallincreaseinemissionsfromthewaste,landandagriculturalsectors,aswellastoavoidanincreaseinthelandfillingofunutiliseddigestateassoilimprovers.Actionspromotedunderthemethanestrategyshouldbeinlinewiththegeneralsustainabilitycriteriaforbioenergydevelopedinthecontextofrenewableenergylegislationandwiththetaxonomyregulation43.Cross-sectoralactions1.TheCommissionwillsupportimprovementsinmeasurementandreportingofmethaneemissionsbycompaniesacrossallrelevantsectors,includingthroughsector-specificinitiatives.2.TheCommissionwillsupporttheestablishmentofanindependentinternationalmethaneemissionsobservatoryanchoredintheUnitedNationsframework,incooperationwithinternationalpartners.Theobservatorywouldbetaskedwithcollecting,reconciling,verifyingandpublishinganthropogenicmethaneemissionsdataatagloballevel.3.TheCommissionwillstrengthensatellite-baseddetectionandmonitoringofmethaneemissionsthroughtheEU’sCopernicusprogramme,withaviewto42TheseandotherrecommendationswereconveyedbystakeholdersataworkshoporganisedbytheCommissionon17July2020entitled‘Theopportunitiesandbarrierstoachievingmethaneemissionreductionsinwasteandagriculturethroughbiogasproduction’.43Regulation(EU)2020/852oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof18June2020ontheestablishmentofaframeworktofacilitatesustainableinvestment,andamendingRegulation(EU)2019/2088.9contributetoanEU-coordinatedcapabilityfordetectingandmonitoringglobalsuper-emitters.4.Inordertodeliverontheincreasedclimateambitionofthe2030climatetargetplanimpactassessment,theCommissionwillreviewrelevantEUclimateandenvironmentallegislationtomoreeffectivelyaddressmethane-relatedemissionsnotablytheIndustrialEmissionsDirectiveandtheEuropeanPollutantReleaseandTransferRegister.5.TheCommissionwillprovidetargetedsupporttoacceleratethedevelopmentofthemarketforbiogasfromsustainablesourcessuchasmanureororganicwasteandresiduesviaupcomingpolicyinitiatives.ThiswillincludethefuturegasmarketregulatoryframeworkandtheupcomingrevisionoftheRenewableEnergyDirective.TheCommissionwillproposeapilotprojecttosupportruralareasandfarmingcommunitiesinbuildingbiogasprojectsandaccessingfundsforbiogasproductionfromagriculturalwaste.2.ACTIONSINTHEENERGYSECTORThescopeofactionsforenergy-relatedmethanecoverstheentireoil,gasandcoalsupplychains.Itincludesliquefiednaturalgas(LNG),gasstorageandbiomethaneintroducedintogassystems.Achievingemissionssavingsinthissectorisfeasible,withatleastonethirdofreductionspossibleatnonetcosttoindustry44.Thegreatestbenefitsinneteconomic,environmentalandsocialtermswouldbeachievedbyreducingventingandflaring,reducingleaksinfossilgasandoilproduction,transmissionandcombustion,andreducingmethaneemissionsfromcoalmines45.Ventingandroutineflaringshouldberestrictedtounavoidablecircumstances,forexampleforsafetyreasons,andrecordedforverificationpurposes.SupportingvoluntaryinitiativesIntheenergysector,theapproachoftheCommissionistosupportvoluntaryinitiativeswhilesimultaneouslypreparinglegislationtobuildonandconsolidatetheprogressmadethroughvoluntaryactions.Aspartofthisapproach,theCommissionisactivelypromotingthewidespreadimplementationofthemeasurementandreportingframeworkdevisedbytheOilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP)measurementandreportingframework.TheOGMPisavoluntaryinitiativethatcurrentlycoversoilandgasupstreamcompanies.IncooperationwiththeUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)andtheClimateandCleanAirCoalition,theCommissionisworkingtoextendtheOGMPframeworktomorecompaniesinthegasupstream,midstreamanddownstream,aswellastothecoalsectorandclosedorabandonedsites46.TheOGMPframeworkisthebestexistingvehicleforimprovingmeasurement,reportingandverificationcapabilityintheenergysector.Inaddition,theCommissioncallsoncompaniesintheoil,gasandcoalsectorstosetupmorerobustleakdetectionandrepair(LDAR)programmestoprepareforupcomingproposalsforlegislationthatwouldmakesuchprogrammesmandatory(moredetailsinthenextsection).Legislativeaction44InternationalEnergyAgency(IEA),MethaneTracker,(2020).45Unintendedleaksfromallequipment.46OngoingcoordinationwithrelevantstakeholdersissupportingthedevelopmentofrevisedMRVmethodologies,adaptedforthesesectorsandsectionsofsupplychains.10TheCommissionwilltablein2021alegislativeproposaloncompulsorymeasurement,reportingandverificationforallenergy-relatedmethaneemissions,buildingontheOilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP)methodology.Improvingthequalityofemissionsdatathroughmandatoryhigher-tierreportingbycompanieswillalsohelpMemberStatestoimprovetheirreportingtotheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC).Itmaythereforealsoleadtoanincreasedshareofhigher-tierreportingfortheconcernedkeycategoriesintheEUinventory.Inaddition,suchlegislationshouldincludeanobligationtoimproveleakdetectionandrepair(LDAR)ofleaksonallfossilgasinfrastructure,aswellasanyotherinfrastructurethatproduces,transportsorusesfossilgas,includingasafeedstock.Inanefforttotackleemissionsfromventingandflaring,LDARobligationswilladdressflaringefficiencyasapriority.Furthermore,theCommissionwillexamineoptionsasregardspossiblemethaneemissionreductiontargetsorstandardsorotherincentivesonfossilenergyconsumedandimportedintheEU.UpstreamgascompanieshaveacertainbutlimitedfinancialincentivetoimplementLDARprogrammes,astheycansellthegasthattheypreventfromleaking47.Transmission,storage,anddistributionsystemsoperators(includingmanyLNGterminals)areregulatedbusinessesanddonotownthegas.Forthisreason,theCommissionwillpromotetherecognitionbyNationalRegulatoryAuthorities(NRAs)ofLDARandmethanereductioninvestmentsasallowedcostsforregulatedentitiesintransmission,storageanddistribution,includingthroughpossibleguidancetoregulators.TheproposedrevisionoftheNon-FinancialReportingDirective(NFRD)couldleadtothedevelopmentofEuropeannon-financial-reportingstandards.Toensureappropriatealignment,thedevelopmentofsuchstandardscouldtakeaccountofthepre-existingOilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP)standardsforsupplychainsinoil,fossilgasandcoalsupplychains.TheCommissionwillexaminetheoptionsavailableinviewofproposinglegislationoneliminatingroutineventingandflaringintheenergysectorcoveringthefullsupplychain,uptothepointofproduction.48.Thiswouldcomplementthe2030objectivesoftheWorldBank’sZeroRoutineFlaringinitiative49,whichtheCommissionintendstosupportalongsideitssupportfortheWorldBank’sGlobalGasFlaringReductionPartnership50.TheCommissionwillalsomakeitaprioritytoexploreamoreprecisestandardforflaringefficiency,withtheobjectiveoffurtherreducingbothfugitiveemissionsandemissionsfromincompletecombustionoffuels.Thesemitigationoptionsaregenerallycost-effective,andakeycomponentofmethane-emissionmitigationintheenergysector,withcombustionaccountingforasignificantportionofEUemissions51.Addresscoalminesandabandonedproductionsites47However,thiswouldonlyreduceleakageif(andtotheextentthat)thecostofabatementislowerthantheadditionalsalepriceachievable.However,asthesecompaniesdonotowntheresourcetheyareusing(thosearegenerallyownedbythecountryofproduction)andnotaccountableforlosses,theyoftenhavelittleinterestinreducingthem.Also,oilproducersoftenhavelittleornoincentive(otherthanregulatory)toreducetheiremissionsofmethaneorothergasesthatarenotintheircorebusiness.48Thiswouldexcludeflaringthatisnecessary,forexampleforsafetyreasons.49https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/zero-routine-flaring-by-2030#150https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/gasflaringreduction51EU2030climatetargetplanImpactAssessment,https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:749e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b-01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_1&format=PDF.11TheCommissionencouragesremedialworktoeliminatemethaneemissionsfromtheEU’sactiveorunusedcoalminesandabandonedoilandgassites.Experienceinnon-EUcountriesandcertainMemberStatesshowsthatthesesitescanhavesignificantlevelsofemissions52.However,atpresent,therearenoEU-widerulesonchecking,measuringorutilisingmethaneleakageoremissionsfromcoalminesoroilandgaswellsaftertheirclosure.TheforthcomingCommissionproposaltoreformtheResearchFundforCoalandSteelalsosupportsresearchinthisfield.TheinitiativeforCoalRegionsinTransition,nowpartoftheJustTransitionPlatform,canserveasaforumfordiscussinggoodpracticesandbestavailabletechniques.TheCommissionwillsupporteithertheeffectiveclosureandsealingofcoalminesortheirutilisationforresidualenergyproduction(collectingmethaneforlocaluse).TechnologiestoachievethisareavailableandalreadyoperationalincertainpartsofEurope.Thiswillrequirethelocalworkforcetobetrainedintheseareas,fundstobeallocatedtounderpinnon-commercialdefinitiveclosureandopportunitiestobedevelopedforcommercialcompaniestocollectmethanefromabandonedsites.TheCommissionwillbringforwardrecommendationsforbestpracticesand/orenablinglegislationifnecessary.Actionsintheenergysector6.TheCommissionwilldeliverlegislativeproposalsin2021on:•Compulsorymeasurement,reporting,andverification(MRV)forallenergy-relatedmethaneemissions,buildingontheOilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP2.0)methodology.•Obligationtoimproveleakdetectionandrepair(LDAR)ofleaksonallfossilgasinfrastructure,aswellasanyotherinfrastructurethatproduces,transportsorusesfossilgas,includingasafeedstock.7.TheCommissionwillconsiderlegislationoneliminatingroutineventingandflaringintheenergysectorcoveringthefullsupplychain,uptothepointofproduction.8.TheCommissionwillworktoextendtheOGMPframeworktomorecompaniesinthegasandoilupstream,midstreamanddownstreamaswellastothecoalsectorandclosedaswellasabandonedsites.9.TheCommissionwillpromoteremedialworkundertheinitiativeforCoalRegionsinTransition.Best-practicerecommendationsand/orenablinglegislationwillbebroughtforwardifnecessary.3.ACTIONSINTHEAGRICULTURALSECTOROverall,methaneemissionsfromEUagriculturehavedecreasedbyapproximately22%since1990,mainlyduetoareductioninruminantlivestocknumbers.However,inthepast5years,herdsizeshaveincreasedagain,leadingtoaslightupturninmethaneemissionsinthatperiod.Themethaneemissionsintensityofmeatandmilk(intermsofmethaneemissionsperweightofmeatormilk)hasalsodecreasedovertimeasaresultofchangesinproductionmethods.Furtherdecreasescanbeachievedbymoresustainableproductionthroughinnovationandtechnologyontheonehandandbymoresustainabledietsontheotherhand.Thereforeastrategicvisionneedstobebasedonabalanceoftechnologies,marketsanddietarychanges,reducedfossilhydrocarboninputsandthatensurealivelihoodandsustainablebusiness52Kholod,etal.,(2020).(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120489).12opportunitiesforfarmerswhileupholdingthefundamentalsoftheEU’sfoodpolicy,asdescribedintheFarmtoForkstrategy53.Thereareinherentcomplexitiesinvolvedinachievingmethaneemissionsreductionsinagricultureaswellasinaccuratelymonitoring,verifyingandreportingtheseemissionsinthatsector.Trade-offsinmitigationactionsmustbeminimised.Forexample,increasingtheuseofconfinementhousingforlivestocktypicallyleadstoreducedmethaneemissions.However,itcouldincreasecarbondioxideemissionsthroughincreasedenergyuseinsidethehousing.Otherquestionstobetakenintoaccountincludethatbenefitsfromgrazingruminantsespeciallyintermsofcarbonsequestrationandbiodiversityingrasslandandpastureswouldbelost.Arangeofmitigationtechnologiesandpracticesareavailablethathavethepotentialtodeliveremissionreductionsdecoupledfromproduction.Thesearemainlyrelatedtoimprovementofanimaldiets,herdmanagement,manuremanagement(notablyitsuseinfertilisersandbiogasgeneration),breeding,herdhealthandanimalwelfare.Themost-effectivewaysofreducingemissionsfromentericfermentation54includeimprovingthehealthandfertilityoftheherds,improvinganimaldiets(mixoffeedmaterials),feedadditives,andfeedingtechniques.Approximately7-10%oftheenergyinthefeedofruminantsismetabolisedintomethane.Thebiggestpotentialforreducingemissionintensityisinnovelapproachestofeeding,asmentionedintheFarmtoForkStrategy,whichcanachieveverysubstantialmethanereductions55.Inadditiontoreducingemissions,theseactionscouldalsobenefitfarmersandanimalsbycontributingtoreducedcostsandimprovedanimalwelfare.Actionsthatleadtoreducedemissionsfrommanureprovideadditionalincometofarmers.Throughcooperationamongfarmersaswellaswithincommunities,wasteandresiduestreamsfromagricultureandwastesectorsthroughanaerobicdigestionshouldbevalorised.Barrierssuchasinsufficientknowledgeandexpertisethatpreventtheirwideruptakeshouldbeaddressed56.Thisunderlinestheneedforthesystemicpromotionoftherelatedexpertiseandenablingframeworks,takingintoaccountthespecificitiesofdifferentMemberStatesandproductionsystems.Methaneemissionsfromricefieldscanbereducedbyrewetting,drying,andotherappropriateagriculturalpractices.Thehighcostsofthesepractices,andthereorganisationoffarmmanagementtheyrequire,needtobeaddressed.Topromotewideruptakeofmethane-reducingapproachesinagriculture,bytheendof2021theCommissionwilldevelopaninventoryofbestpractices,availabletechnologiesandinnovativetechnologies.TheCommissionwillupdatethisinventorywithtechnologiesgraduallycomingontothemarket.Thedevelopmentandupdatingoftheinventorywillbecarriedoutincooperationwithsectoralexperts,keystakeholdersandMemberStates.53COM(2020)381.54https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/economic-assessment-ghg-mitigation-policy-options-eu-agriculture-ecampa-255Onenovelapproachtofeedingthatholdsgreatpromiseisincorporatingseaweedintocattlefeed.Oneinvitrostudyfoundthatseaweedcouldpowerfullyinhibitmethaneproductionevenatverylowlevels.Seehttps://www.publish.csiro.au/an/AN15576.56https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/sites/agri-eip/files/eip-agri_fg_livestock_emissions_final_report_2017_en.pdf13Inthefirsthalfof2021,theCommissionwillsupportsettingupanexpertgrouptoanalyselife-cyclemethaneemissionsmetrics.Thisgroupwilllookatlivestock,manureandfeedmanagement,feedcharacteristics,newtechnologiesandpracticesandotherissues,basedonrelevantinternationalwork57.Thislifecycleanalysiswillseektodistinguishtowhatextent(1)specificlivestockmanagementandanimalwelfarechoices;(2)importedordomesticfeedsand(3)intensiveorpastoralfarmingchoicesaffectmethaneemissions.TheCommissionwillalsointroducethistopicintotheCCACAgricultureprogrammeasaworkstreamandwillconsulttheCCACScientificAdvisoryBoardforitsappreciation.Moreover,tohelpdatacollectionandmeasurement,by2022theCommissionwillproposeadigitalcarbon-navigatortemplateandwillencouragethedevelopmentanduseofsuchtemplatesatfarmlevel.Thiswillalsoimprovefarmers’awarenessofgreenhousegasemissionsandoftheeffectsofmitigationtechnologiesontheirfarms.OtherinitiativesstemmingfromtheGreenDealandareformedCommonAgriculturalPolicy(CAP)willfurthercontributetoaneffectiveandsteadydecreaseintheoverallmethaneemissionsfromtheEUlivestocksector.Inlinewiththe2030ClimateTargetPlantheEffortSharingRegulation(ESR)(whichcoversmethaneemissionsfromagriculture),willnowbereviewedtoreflecttheincreasedcarbonreductiontargetprovidingforincreasedincentivestoreducemethaneemissions.TheCommissionwillencourageMemberStatestoincludemethanereductionschemesintheirstrategicplansfortheCAPsuchascarbonfarminginitiatives.ThesecanhelptodevelopanewgreenbusinessmodelbyrewardingfarmersforapplyingfarmingpracticesthatremoveCO2fromtheatmosphereandcontributetotheclimateneutralityobjective(includingintheanimalsector),asmentionedintheFarmtoForkstrategy58.StrategicplansfortheCAPandthenationalrecoveryandresilienceplanscanalsosupportinvestmentsinbiogasplants,aswellascooperationamongfarmersandlocalcommunitiestomaximiseaddedvalue.SuchinvestmentscancontributetotheEU’seconomicrecoveryandincreasequalityoflifeinruralareas.Technicalmitigationmeasureswillcomplementotherimportantdevelopmentsforthesectorandruralareas,inparticularanexpectedsocietalshifttomorebalanceddiets,withlessredandprocessedmeat,morefruits,vegetablesandplant-basedproteinsources,inlinewiththeEUFarmtoForkStrategy.Theselifestylechangescan‘notonlyreducetherisksoflife-threateningdiseases,theycanalsoreducetheenvironmentalimpactofthefoodsystem’59.Finally,theCommissionwilladvanceitsresearchagendainthisarea,andinparticularthroughtargetedresearchinitsStrategicPlan2021-2024forHorizonEurope.Actionsintheagriculturalsector10.Inthefirsthalfof2021,theCommissionwillsupportsettingupanexpertgrouptoanalyselife-cyclemethaneemissionsmetrics.Thisgroupwilllookatlivestock,manureandfeedmanagement,feedcharacteristics,newtechnologiesandpracticesandotherissues.Itwillalsoworkinsettingupalifecyclemethodologyontheoverallemissionsforlivestocks.11.Bytheendof2021,theCommission–incooperationwithsectoralexpertsandMemberStates–willdevelopaninventoryofbestpracticesandavailable57TheLEAPPartnership(LivestockEnvironmentalAssessmentandPerformance)undertheauspiceofFAO58FarmtoForkStrategy(COM(2020)381).59FarmtoForkStrategy(COM(2020)381).14technologiestoexploreandpromotethewideruptakeofinnovativemitigatingactions.Theseactionswillhaveaspecialfocusonmethanefromentericfermentation.12.Toencouragecarbon-balancecalculationsatfarmlevel,theCommissionwillby2022provideadigitalcarbonnavigatortemplateandguidelinesoncommonpathwaysforthequantitativecalculationofgreenhousegasemissionsandremovals.13.TheCommissionwillpromotetheuptakeofmitigationtechnologiesthroughthewiderdeploymentof‘carbonfarming’inMemberStatesandtheirCommonAgriculturalPolicyStrategicPlans,asfrom2021.14.IntheHorizonEuropestrategicplan2021-2024,theCommissionwillconsiderproposingtargetedresearchonthedifferentfactorsthateffectivelyleadtomethaneemissionreductions,focusingontechnologyandnaturebasedsolutionsaswellasonthefactorsleadingtodietaryshift.4.ACTIONSINTHEWASTEANDWASTEWATERSECTORInwastemanagement,theLandfillDirective60adoptedin1999,requireslandfilloperatorstomanagelandfillgasbyeitherusingittogenerateenergyorflaringit.FlaringstillgeneratespollutantsandCO2.Accordingtothewastehierarchy,landfillingistheleastpreferableoptionandshouldbelimitedtothenecessaryminimum.In2018,24%ofallmunicipalwastegeneratedintheEUwaslandfilled61,withsignificantlyhighersharesinanumberofMemberStatesduetolegalandinvestmentshortcomings.Biodegradablewasteisresponsibleforthegenerationoflandfillgas.RecentchangestoEUwastelegislation(2018)introducedanobligationtocollectbiodegradablewasteseparatelyby2024,andsetanewtargetofamaximum10%landfillingofwasteby2035.Asaresultofthesechanges,itisexpectedthatmethaneemissionsfromlandfillswilldecreasefurther.Minimisingthedisposalofbiodegradablewasteinlandfillsanditsutilisationforclimate-neutralcircularbio-basedmaterialsandchemicalsiscriticaltoavoidtheformationofmethane,whilstprovidingasubstituteforfossilandcarbonintensiveproducts.Forthesereasons,MemberStatesshouldmorestrictlyenforceexistinglegalrequirementssuchasthelandfilldiversiontargetsforbiodegradablewasteandthetreatmentofbiodegradablewastepriortodisposaltoneutraliseitsdegradability62.MemberStatesshouldalsoclampdownontheoperationofillegallandfillsites.Enhancedmonitoring,reportingandverificationinthisfieldisalsonecessarytoforecasttheimpactsthesemeasureswillhaveontheclimateambitionsfor2030andbeyond.Moredataandinformationisnecessarytoascertaintheneedforandscopeoffurtheraction.Ideally,alllandfillsitesshouldusethegastheyproduceuntiltheenergycontentdropsbelow60Directive1999/31/EC.61Eurostat,env_wasmun.62AsinterpretedbytheEUCJrulingCaseC-323/13,EuropeanCommissionv.ItalianRepublic.http://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&num=C-323/13.15ausefulvalue.Onceitisnolongerviabletoutiliselandfillgas,itmayberecommendedtousebio-oxidationtechnology63in‘hotspots’identifiedacrossthesitetoneutralisetheremainingmethane.Withrespecttothetreatmentanduseofwastewaterandsewagesludgeunderthecurrentregulatoryframework,namelytheUrbanWasteWaterTreatmentDirectiveandtheSewageSludgeDirective,emissionsofgreenhousegasesarenotspecificallytackled.Overthepast29years,theimplementationoftheUrbanWasteWaterTreatmentDirectivehashelpedtopreventsignificantmethaneemissionsduetothecollectionandtreatmentofwastewaterinefficientcentralisedfacilities.Thesefacilitiesemitsignificantlylessmethaneandothergreenhousegasesthanalternativetreatmentapproaches.TheSewageSludgeDirective,adoptedmorethan30yearsago,regulatestheuseofsewagesludgetoprotecttheenvironment,andinparticularsoil,againsttheharmfuleffectsofcontaminatedsludgewhenusedinagriculture.TheUrbanWasteWaterTreatmentDirectiveiscurrentlybeingreviewed64.InparalleltotheimpactassessmentontheUrbanWasteWaterTreatmentDirective,startinginthethirdquarterof2020,theCommissionwillcarryoutastudytosupporttheevaluationoftheSewageSludgeDirective.Itwillalsocarryoutanadditionalstudythatwillassessthescopeforfurtheractionongreenhouse-gasemissions,includingmethanefromsewagesludge.BasedontheoutcomesoftheevaluationoftheSewageSludgeDirectiveandfurtherresearchandtheimpactassessmentfortherevisionoftheUrbanWasteWaterTreatmentDirective,theCommissionwillconsidertakingmeasurestolimittheemissionofgreenhousegasesfromsewagesludge.InthereviewoftheLandfillDirectiverequiredfor2024,theCommissionwillconsiderseveralactionsrelatedtolandfillgasmanagement.Firstly,itwillconsidernewtechniquestoreducemethaneemissions.Thismayincludeaerationoflandfillmasstoinhibitthegenerationofmethane,increasingtheuseoflandfillgastogenerateenergy,orwhenneitheroptionispossible,theuseoftechniquesthateffectivelyoxidisethemethanesuchasbio-oxidationorflaring.Secondly,theCommissionwillconsiderenhancedmonitoring,reportingandverification,whichiskeytogaugeimpactsandimproveperformanceinthisfieldovertime.Followingonfromtheaboveactionsandwherenecessary,theexistingguidancedocumentontheimplementationoftheLandfillDirectiveongascontrolrequirements65willbeupdatedaccordingly.Newtechnologiesforbetterconversionofwastetobiomethanecanbeeffectiveinfurtherreducingmethaneemissionsinthesector.Inthisrespect,theCommissionwillsupporttargetedresearchontechnology-basedsolutionsinitsStrategicPlan2021-2024ofHorizonEurope.63LIFEProjectREMIDA-InnovativeMethodsforResidualLandfillGasEmissionsMitigationinMediterraneanRegionsLIFE14CCM/IT/000464.Theprojectdemonstratedthetechnicalandeconomicviabilityoftwotechnologies(biofiltrationandbiowindows)implementedtobiologicallyoxidiselandfillbiogaswithlowcalorificvalue.Thetechnologiesresultedingainsrelatedto:oxidationefficiency,abatementofodorouscompounds,minimisationoftheriskassociatedwithemissionsofcarcinogeniccompoundsandreductionsinthecostoflandfillposttreatmentwhencomparedtoaconventionalcombustionsystem.64https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12405-Revision-of-the-Urban-Wastewater-Treatment-Directive.65https://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/landfill/pdf/guidance%20on%20landfill%20gas.pdf.16Actionsinthewasteandwastewatersector15.TheCommissionwillcontinuetotackleunlawfulpracticesandprovidetechnicalassistancetoMemberStatesandregions.Thisassistancewilladdressissuessuchassub-standardlandfills.TheCommissionwillalsohelpMemberStatesandregionstostabilisebiodegradablewastepriortodisposalanditsincreasingusefortheproductionofclimate-neutral,circularbio-basedmaterialsandchemicals,anddivertthiswastetobiogasproduction.16.InthereviewoftheLandfillDirectivein2024,theCommissionwillconsiderfurtheractiontoimprovethemanagementoflandfillgas,minimiseitsharmfulclimateeffects,andharnessanyofitspotentialenergygains.17.IntheStrategicPlan2021-2024ofHorizonEurope,theCommissionwillconsiderproposingtargetedresearchonwastetobiomethanetechnologies.III.INTERNATIONALACTIONTheEUwillseektotacklemethaneemissionsintheenergy,agricultureandwastesectorsincooperationwithpartnercountriesandinternationalorganisations.Thisworkwillbuildonexistingpartnershipsininternationalfora,suchasthroughtheClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC),theArcticCouncilandtheAssociationofSoutheastAsianNations(ASEAN).TheEUwillalsoengagewithinternationalorganisations.Asthelargestimporterofoilandgas,theEUhastheleveragetopromoteenergy-relatedmethaneemissionreductionsglobally.EstimatesshowthattheexternalcarbonormethaneemissionsassociatedwithEUfossilgasconsumption(i.e.theemissionsreleasedoutsidetheEUtoproduceanddeliverfossilgastotheEU)arebetweenthreetoeighttimesthequantityofemissionsoccurringwithintheEU66.TheCommissionthereforeintendstomobiliseacoalitionofkeyimportcountriestocoordinateeffortsonenergysectormethaneemissions.Moreover,theEUwillleverageitsleadershipinthecirculareconomyanditsadvancedagriculturalpracticesthatbalanceanimalwelfarewithproductivitytoaccelerateinternationalaction.TheCommissionwillalsosupportinternationaldatasharingonmethaneemissionsthroughtheforeseeninternationalmethaneemissionsobservatoryaswellasbymakingEUsatellitedataavailabletoglobalpartners.Inthisway,theEUwillleadbyexampleininternationalcollaborationondatasharing.Thesecross-sectoralactionswillbecomplementedbyspecificactionsineachsector,asdescribedbelow.1.ENERGYa.ReachouttointernationalenergysupplierandbuyercountriesandsupportmultilateralcooperationTheEUwillleadadiplomaticoutreachcampaigntofossilfuelproducercountriesandcompanies,andencouragethemtobecomeactiveintheOilandGasMethanePartnership(OGMP)67.TheEUwillalsopursueclosercooperationwiththeUS,CanadaandMexico66EnvironmentalDefenseFund(EDF),(2019).67Currentmembersare:BP,Ecopetrol,Eni,Equinor,NeptuneEnergyInternationalSA,Pemex,PTT,Repsol,Shell,andTotal.17(countrieswithexistingmethane-regulationandcountry-levelmethane-reductiontargets)toshareexperiencesandidentifyjointactions.Throughitsbilateraldialogues,theEUwilladvocatefortheneedtoproperlymeasureandreducemethaneemissionsatagloballevel.TheCommissionwillexplorethepossibilityofprovidingpartnercountrieswithtechnicalassistanceingasandoilproductionsothesecountriescanimprovetheirmethaneregulatoryframeworksandtheircapacityinmonitoring,reportingandverification.Thescopeforcoordinatedinternationalactionamongfossilfuelbuyercountriesinreducingmethaneemissionsinthefossilgassectorisparticularlysignificant.TheEU,togetherwithChina,SouthKoreaandJapanaccountformorethan75%oftheglobaltradeinfossilgas68.TheEUwillreachouttothesepartnerstocreateacoalitionamongbuyercountriestosupportanambitiousinternationalmonitoring,reportingandverificationstandard,thuspromotingtheglobaluptakeofemission-reductiontechnologies.Moreover,theinternationalmethaneemissionsobservatorywouldbetaskedwithcompilingandpublishingamethane-supplyindex(MSI)atEUandinternationallevel.Initially,theindexcouldbecomposedusingexistingandreporteddatafromcountries’emissionsinventoriesassubmittedtotheUNFCCC,empoweringbuyerstomakeinformedchoiceswhenpurchasingfuels.Withtime,theindexcouldbenefitfromglobaldatasuppliedbytheinternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory.Inordertoincentiviseaccuratemeasurement,reportingandverification(MRV)onfossilgas(includingimports),theCommissionwillproposetouseadefaultvalueforvolumesthatdonothaveadequateMRVsystemsinplace.ThedefaultvaluewillbeappliedwherenecessaryuntilacompulsoryMRVframeworkforallenergy-relatedmethaneemissionsbuildingontheOGMP2.0methodologyisimplemented.Thesestepswillincreasetransparencyininternationalgastradeflows.Minimummethaneemissionstandards,targetsorothersuchincentivesbasedonrobustscientificanalysiscanplayaneffectiveroletoensuremethaneemissionreductionsintheEUandglobally.TheCommissionwillexaminealltheoptionsavailable,informedbytheworkoftheforeseenindependentinternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory-buildingonthemethanesupplyindex.Intheabsenceofsignificantcommitmentsfrominternationalpartnersonmethaneemissionsreductions,theCommissionwillconsiderproposinglegislationontargets,standardsorotherincentivestoreducemethaneemissionsfromfossilenergyconsumedandimportedintheEU.Thiswillbebasedonanimpactassessmentwhichwillcomprehensivelyassesstheimplicationsofputtingsuchaninstrumentinplace,includingintermsoftheindependentverificationandcompliancechecksthatwillberequiredtoeffectivelyenforceit,andintermsofpotentialcontributionstowardsoverallreductionsinglobalmethaneemissions.Thisimpactassessmentwillbeconductedincloseconsultationwithinternationalpartners,civilsocietyandkeystakeholders.TheEUwillalsojoinandactivelysupportinitiatives,includingtheinternationalpublic-privateGlobalMethaneInitiative,theWorldBank’sGlobalGasFlaringReductioninitiative,andtheWorldBank’sinitiativeonZeroRoutineFlaringby2030.EUcollaborationwiththeUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP),theIEAandtheClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)ontheinternationalemissionsobservatoryisacorecomponentofmultilateraleffortsacrosstheseorganisationstotackleglobalmethaneemissionsintheshort-term.68InternationalEnergyAgency(IEA),(2019).18TheCommissionwillcontributetoaseriesofkeyinternationaleventsinthebuilduptotheUNGeneralAssemblyinNewYorkinSeptember2021,withtheobjectiveofsecuringatthatmeetingaUN-basedpathwaytoreducemethaneemissionsintheyears2021-2031.Thegoalwillbetoprovidesupportforthecoordinationofinternationalactionstorapidlyreduceglobalatmosphericmethaneandpromotelonger-termaction,notablythroughthecreationofalegally-bindingframeworkatinternationallevelformethaneemissionreduction.b.Satellitedatasharingonsuper-emittersAddressingsuper-emittersbothintheEUandinternationallyisacost-effectiveactionthatisfeasiblewithcurrentlyavailabledataandwithestablishedleak-detectionandrepair(LDAR)measures.Methaneleakagesfromcoalminesareoftenalsoverysignificantandmoredataisrequiredtounderstandthisareaindetail69.TheEUwillpromotetheworldwideextensionofthecapabilitytodetectandmonitorsuper-emittersintheforeseeninternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory.TheEUwillofferthiscapabilitytointernationalpartnersandtakeenergy-diplomacyactiontomonitorandworktoachievereductionsinemissionsfromsuper-emittersglobally.Thisinformationwillbebasedonsatellitedatareconciledwithbottom-updetectionprocesses.Asof2021,thisdetectionandmonitoringcapabilitywillformthebasisfortheestablishmentofaprocedurethatalertstheEUandnationalgovernmentsbothwithintheEUandinternationallyaboutmajoremissionsources.Furtherimprovementsindetectioncapabilitywillbeavailablestartingin202370.TheEUisatechnicalleaderinsatelliteimageryandmethaneemissionleakdetectionthroughCopernicus,inparticulartheglobalandfreelyavailableCAMSandSentinel5Pproducts.OthersatelliteswillbelaunchedbytheEUandbytheUSandJapaninthecomingyearscoveringthesamespectrumasSentinel5P.Datasharingamonginternationalactorswillsetanexampleofinternationalcollaborationtoimprovethemonitoringofglobalmethaneemissions.2.AGRICULTUREAsignificantshareofglobalmethaneemissionsintheagriculturalsectororiginatesoutsideoftheEU,andthisshareisprojectedtoincrease.Aninternationalvisionandthepromotionofmitigationactionsisthereforeparamount.TheCommissionandMemberStateshavebeen,andwillcontinuetobe,veryactiveinvariousinternationalforaforreducingemissionsfromagriculturalandagro-foodsystems.TheEUwillintensifycollaborationwithnon-EUcountriesaspartoftheKoroniviaJointWorkonAgriculture71(KJWA)undertheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC).Thisframeworkcoversarangeofinterrelatedtopicssuchassoil,livestock,nutrientandwatermanagement,foodsecurity,thesocioeconomicimpactsofclimatechangeacrossagricultureandmethodsforassessingclimatechange.AtCOP26,theEUwillworktoextractbestpracticesandknowledgefromtheKJWAworkprogrammetohelpmaketheglobalfoodsystemmoresustainable.69Saunoisetal.(2019)70ThelaunchofsatellitesSentinel4and5willprovidehigher-frequencyobservations,increasingthelikelihoodofcapturingintermittentsources.71https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/agriculture19TheEUisanactivememberoftheThematicWorkingGrouponAgriculture72,whichisledbytheUN’sFoodandAgricultureOrganization.Inthisrole,theEUwillhelptofosterbothcollaborationandtheexchangeofknowledgeandbestpracticestoimproveimplementationofclimateactioninagriculture.ThisworkwillcoverlivestockandfocusonimprovingtheimplementationofNationallyDeterminedContributions(NDCs)pledgedbycountriesaspartoftheParisAgreement.TheClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC)agricultureinitiative73alsoaimstoincreasetheambitionofNDCs.Itfocusesonreducingemissionsofmethanefromlivestock(fromentericfermentationandmanuremanagement)andpaddyriceproduction.Asamainpartnerinthisinitiative,theCommissionwillensurethatitcontinuestohelpnon-EUcountrieswithknowledgeexchange,bestpractices,andthesettingupofpilotprojectstobettermanageandmitigatemethaneemissionsfromagriculture.Futureworkwillfocusonbestpracticesandtechnologiestoreduceentericfermentationglobally.TheEU’s-internationalpartnershipsonresearchandcooperationwillcontinuetosupportclimateactioninagriculture-relatedprojects.Theseprojectswillcoverlivestockmanagement,grazinglandmanagementandforestry74.Forestry-basedactionsrelevanttomethaneabatementincludeinitiativestoreducetheconversion,drainingandburningofpeatlandforests75,managingandrestoringforestsinawaythatreducestheincidenceandseverityofuncontrolledforestfires76,andreducingfirewoodandcharcoaluse(switchingtonon-biomassfuelsforcooking)77.Othertargetareasarecroplandmanuremanagementaswellasotherlandusesandecosystems(managingprescribed/controlledfires,agriculturaldevelopmentinurbanandperi-urbanareas,anddryingofwetlands).TheCommissionwillalsopromotethemitigationpotentialintherice-cultivationsectorinAsiathroughcooperationprojects.TheseprojectswillbesetupandmonitoredaccordingtoEUclimate-trackingproceduresandinlinewithNDCsandnationaladaptationplans.3.WASTETheCommissionisactivelyparticipatingintherevisionofguidanceonthelandfillingofwaste(includinglandfill-gasmanagement)undertheBaselConvention78.TheguidancehasbeenalignedwithexistingEUwastelegislationInternationalactions18.TheEUwillstep-upitscontributiontotheworkofinternationalfora,suchasthroughtheClimateandCleanAirCoalition(CCAC),theArcticCouncilandtheAssociationofSoutheastAsianNations(ASEAN).19.AspartoftheEU’sdiplomaticandexternalrelationsaction,theCommissionwilladdressmethaneemissionreductionsinallrelevantsectorswithpartnercountries72http://www.fao.org/climate-change/our-work/what-we-do/ndcs/twg/en/73https://ccacoalition.org/en/resources/ccac-agriculture-initiative-infosheet74EUCommunicationonSteppingupEUActiontoProtectandRestoretheWorld’sForests;23July201975IPCC,(2019).76Forestconservationandsustainablemanagementalsoreducefloodrisks,andtherebyreducethemethaneemissionsassociatedwithflooding.77Fromtheperspectiveofmethaneemissions,aswitchtootherbiomassfuels,eveniftheyaresustainablyproduced,isnotidealasallbiomassburninggeneratesmethane.78BaselConventionontheControlofTransboundaryMovementsofHazardousWastesandtheirDisposalhttps://www.basel.int/Portals/4/Basel%20Convention/docs/text/BaselConventionText-e.pdf.20andpromoteglobalcoordinationofeffortstoaddressenergy-sectormethaneemissions.20.TheCommissionwillseekincreasedtransparencyintheenergysectorbyworkingwithinternationalpartnerstodevelopaMethaneSupplyIndexintheforeseeninternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory.21.TheCommissionwillconsidermethaneemissionreductiontargets,standardsorotherincentivesforfossilenergyconsumedandimportedintheEUintheabsenceofsignificantcommitmentsfrominternationalpartners.22.TheCommissionwillsupporttheestablishmentofadetection-and-alertprocessformethanesuper-emittersusingEUsatellitecapability,andsharethisinformationinternationallythroughtheforeseeninternationalmethaneemissionsobservatory.23.TheCommissionwillsupportcooperationwithinternationalpartners,includingtheGlobalMethaneInitiative,theWorldBank’sGlobalGasFlaringReductioninitiative,andtheWorldBank’sinitiativeonZeroRoutineFlaringby2030,aswellastheInternationalEnergyAgency.24.TheCommissionwillcontributetoaseriesofkeyinternationaleventsinthebuilduptotheUNGeneralAssemblyinNewYorkinSeptember2021,withtheobjectiveofsecuringaUNbasedpathwayoncoordinatedactionsatinternationalleveltoreducemethaneemissions.IV.CONCLUSIONSThisstrategyidentifiesasetofactionsthatwillachievesignificantreductionsinmethaneemissionsacrosstheenergy,agricultureandwastemanagementsectorsatEUandinternationallevel.ThesemeasureswillhelptodeliverontheEU’scommitmentsundertheEuropeanGreenDealandtheParisAgreementtowardsclimateneutrality,aswellasreducingairpollution.EffectiveemissionreductionswillrequireresoluteactionbyEUMemberStates,non-EUcountriesandstakeholders.TheCommissionwillcontinuetomonitorprogressinrelationtomethaneemissionreductionsintheEUgreenhousegasinventories,whilereportingundertheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)andUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)frameworkswillmonitorprogressatinternationallevel.TheCommissioninvitestheEuropeanParliament,Council,CommitteeoftheRegions,EuropeanEconomicandSocialCommittee,MemberStates,non-EUcountries,internationalorganisationsandstakeholdersatEUandinternationalleveltosupportandcooperateonthefurtherdevelopmentofthisstrategytourgentlyaddressmethaneemissionsacrosstheenergy,agricultureandwastemanagementsectors.
VIP
