Lawmakers Push for Strong, Consistent Standards
Starting January 2027, European importers of oil and gas must meet strict monitoring, reporting, and verification rules for methane emissions from producing countries and companies. A group of 24 US lawmakers has written to the European Union urging it not to exempt American energy producers if domestic standards fall short on accuracy or enforcement.
In their letter, the lawmakers called the EU’s methane regulations—a short-lived but highly potent greenhouse gas up to 30 times stronger than CO₂—a “critical tool” to curb wasteful flaring and venting of natural gas. They stressed that uniform rules across all suppliers are key to reducing trade barriers and rewarding companies that adopt methane-reduction technologies.
EU Offers Options, Not Exemptions
The European Commission has circulated guidance to simplify implementation. Companies can either use third-party certificates verifying emissions at the production site or adopt a digital “trace and claim” system that tracks each fuel volume through the supply chain.
However, the Commission stressed that these measures do not change the law’s core requirements. As of January 2027, importers must comply with monitoring, reporting, and verification standards. “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,” said Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen.
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 and mitigation requirements, creating uncertainty for exporters. Environmental groups say the EU law gives an advantage to companies already measuring and managing emissions while boosting global efforts to reduce methane.
Jonathan Banks of the Clean Air Task Force described the lawmakers’ letter as evidence of a growing “transatlantic and global consensus” to cut methane. Methane, produced by fossil fuels and livestock, contributes significantly to global warming, accounting for roughly 30% of temperature rise since the industrial revolution, according to the International Energy Agency.
