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Explains
The Darvaza methane gas crater in Turkmenistan, also known as the Door to Hell, has been burning since 1971.
Methane regulations tighten
Rogue methane emissions are under scrutiny, as the UCLA project demonstrates, but countries are also trying hard to cut methane emissions. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in 2021 and endorsed by over 150 countries, commits signatories to a collective 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030.
The European Union is also tightening its grip on methane emissions. The EU Methane Regulation (Regulation 2024/1787), which became law in August 2024, is the world's first legally binding framework specifically targeting methane emissions across the energy sector.
The European regulation introduced a mandatory, structured control system covering the entire emissions cycle. Operators are now required not only to detect and repair leaks, but also to quantify them, documenting their evolution over time. This represents a significant departure from previous approaches, which often relied on estimated or modelled emissions based on generic factors.
The regulation establishes several key milestones. By 2027, operators must demonstrate consistency between ground-level measurements and atmospheric observations through a formal data reconciliation process. By 2028, new CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) standards will come into force and minimum detectable levels will be defined.
Regulation 2024/1787 has implications outside the EU. Importers of oil and gas into Europe are required to report information on methane control measures by suppliers, including leak detection and repair programmes and equipment standards.
By 2027, imports will be subject to measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification requirements equivalent to the EU regulation or OGMP Level 5, the highest standard for methane emissions reporting. (In 2025, the UK was a significant energy exporter to the EU, with natural gas exports averaging more than 13 billion cubic meters. This represented over 4% of the total gas supply.)
By 2030, methane intensity thresholds will apply to imported fuels.
Methane regulations tighten
The Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, also known as the Door to Hell, has been burning since 1971.
Rogue methane emissions are under scrutiny, as the UCLA project demonstrates, but countries are also trying hard to cut methane emissions. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in 2021 and endorsed by over 150 countries, commits signatories to a collective 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030.
The European Union is also tightening its grip on methane emissions. The EU Methane Regulation (Regulation 2024/1787), which became law in August 2024, is the world's first legally binding framework specifically targeting methane emissions across the energy sector.
The European regulation introduced a mandatory, structured control system covering the entire emissions cycle. Operators are now required not only to detect and repair leaks, but also to quantify them, documenting their evolution over time. This represents a significant departure from previous approaches, which often relied on estimated or modelled emissions based on generic factors.
The regulation establishes several key milestones. By 2027, operators must demonstrate consistency between ground-level measurements and atmospheric observations through a formal data reconciliation process. By 2028, new CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) standards will come into force and minimum detectable levels will be defined.
Regulation 2024/1787 has implications outside the EU. Importers of oil and gas into Europe are required to report information on methane control measures by suppliers, including leak detection and repair programmes and equipment standards.
By 2027, imports will be subject to measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification requirements equivalent to the EU regulation or OGMP Level 5, the highest standard for methane emissions reporting. (In 2025, the UK was a significant energy exporter to the EU, with natural gas exports averaging more than 13 billion cubic meters. This represented over 4% of the total gas supply.)
By 2030, methane intensity thresholds will apply to imported fuels.
