Background: In a letter sent to European Union (EU) officials in Brussels, the Trump administration and US oil and gas lobbyists are pressuring the EU to weaken rules to reduce methane gas pollution by exempting US suppliers from regulations for the next 10 years. The European Union Methane Regulations (EUMR) will require companies to prove significant pollution reduction to be eligible to sell and distribute oil and gas on the EU market. However, the move by the Trump administration this year to eliminate and weaken US climate policies has made it more challenging for American companies to comply. While the US has abandoned international commitments on climate, the EU maintains its commitment to the Paris Agreement and Global Methane Pledge.
Methane gas is the second leading cause of the climate crisis. Methane pollution can leak at every step of the oil and gas supply chain. When methane leaks, health-harming pollution leaks with it.
Statement from Earthworks Senior Manager of Research, Policy, and Data, Dakota Raynes:
“No surprise that the Trump administration is trying to bully allies and weaken climate and public health protections in Europe. The Trump Doctrine is the same abroad as it is at home: sacrifice everyday people for the benefit of a few billionaires and polluters.
“What’s surprising is silence from some of the largest oil and gas companies who have made big public promises to reduce methane pollution. The US is currently home to the largest methane emissions from oil and gas operations in the world. It’s obvious that US companies must do more to cut dirty methane, not less. A special exemption from rules only rewards some of the worst polluters in the industry.”