EU states back one-year delay for methane rules amid Iran war
The decision illustrates the growing tension between Europe's climate ambitions and the immediate challenge of securing affordable energy amid the Middle East conflict.
European Union member states have backed a one-year delay to rules requiring oil, gas and coal importers to monitor and report methane emissions, citing disruption to energy markets caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
What happened: The Council of the European Union, representing the bloc’s 27 member states, said in a statement on Friday that it agreed to delay the monitoring, reporting and verification requirements from Jan. 1, 2027, to the same date in 2028 in line with a European Commission proposal published last month. The postponement still requires agreement with the European Parliament.
“There are significant pressures on global energy markets, which are driving up energy prices across the EU,” Irish Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said in a statement.
“The Council’s agreement today proposes a pragmatic approach forward, addressing the pressures in the energy market, while maintaining the EU’s global leadership in reducing methane emissions,” he added.
