Regulation
At a time of turmoil in global gas markets, the EC has said it won’t change its Methane Regulation but may introduce “flexibilities.”
Pressure from the gas industry and the Trump administration have the EU Methane Regulation under attack. Civil society organisations and even some members of the U.S. Congress have called on the EU not to succumb to industry lobbying.
The Trump administration wants a “full repeal” of Europe’s Methane Regulation, or at least a delay until 2035. The gas industry on both continents is also lobbying for a weakening of the rules.
The EU has pledged to buy U.S. LNG as part of a trade deal with Trump. The Trump administration and the U.S. LNG industry has seized on the trade talks to target the EU Methane Regulation with the goal of locking Europe into buying more American gas.
Higher methane emissions from gas infrastructure have negated much of U.S. climate progress in the past two decades. “Gas is a lot worse than I think is widely understood,” the author of a new study says.
Europe eyes a “simplification” of its Methane Regulation to speed up LNG imports. But experts say U.S. LNG dependency would not enhance energy security, and weakening rules would only lead to higher emissions.
As part of the Trump administration’s deregulatory blitz, Congress scrapped a key climate policy from the Biden era.
The landmark study from the Department of Energy found “unfettered” U.S. LNG exports impose higher costs on consumers, exacerbate climate change, and slow the transition to renewables. The study could complicate Trump’s plans to green-light new projects.
The EU Commission intends to consolidate ESG reporting rules into one single ‘omnibus’ regulation from early next year.
Trump’s return to the White House will usher in an era of U.S. backsliding on climate policy. But attempts to slow the energy transition will be self-defeating, experts say.
Analysts and executives convened at Gastech saw possible threats to the industry if methane emissions are not addressed.
Gas consumption in the EU is set to decline by more than 70 percent through mid-century. A new paper argues that governments need to minimise investment in gas infrastructure and plan for decommissioning.
A potential Mexico LNG export boom awaits. But while two small projects move forward, much larger proposals face financial and regulatory risk.
The Supreme Court decision severely curtails the ability of federal agencies to regulate in areas of public health and the environment. Experts said the decision could ‘paralyse’ the ability to govern.
Several federal agencies rolled out multiple landmark regulations on the energy sector. Campaigners hailed the “green blitz” as Biden scrambles to finish up work before the U.S. election in November.