1 December 2020, 15:00 – 17:00 CET

Webex Events

Hosted by MEP Maria Spyraki

Co-chairs of the European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development’

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Gas market reform is vital to achieving climate neutrality and fulfilling the objectives laid out in the EU strategies on energy system integration and hydrogen. Whilst European institutions and national governments have rightfully recognized the potential to reduce CO2 emissions in the gas sector, methane emissions remain overlooked.

Methane is a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20 year time period, and the emissions from the EU’s oil and gas industry have a short-term climate impact equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions from 30 coal-fired power plants.

This is why it is important to consider a methane performance standard to be applied to all gas sold in the EU, including from imports. Assuming that an integrated system will be developed in the service of achieving the net-zero vision, it is vital that the gas sector delivers on sustainability, as it already does on security of supply and affordability.

The EU’s Hydrogen Strategy addresses the issue of methane emission and makes it clear that there can be no blue hydrogen without solving the dual CO2 and methane performance challenge. This is a great starting point for addressing a crucial piece of the climate equation. All in all, while opening up a new market for converting gas to hydrogen, it is paramount to clearly establish how the corresponding methane emissions will also be dealt with. The event will bring together key policy-makers, industry representatives and NGOs to explore how Europe’s gas sector can effectively contribute to reaching climate neutrality.