EU Commission weighs postponing methane emission rules after member state requests

The European Commission intends to put forward a proposal to delay the enforcement of its methane-emission regulations after receiving requests from several governments, notably France and the United States. While the Commission did not specify the length of the postponement, Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen indicated that a one-year deferral is under review. The request follows a recent letter from President Emmanuel Macron to President Ursula von der Leyen urging a revision of the rules.

The EU regulation requires gas and oil importers to monitor and report methane leaks, a measure contested by major hydrocarbon producers. Environmental NGOs, such as the Environmental Investigation Agency, argue that any delay would be counter-productive for climate mitigation.