Most of Europe’s natural gas industry has announced an ambition to become climate neutral by mid-century at the latest. But a study shows how difficult it will be to turn the goals into reality. A survey of companies revealed none could definitively measure their methane emissions, relying instead on estimates, and few had concrete plans to reduce them. German environmental groups Urgewald and Deutsch Umwelthilfe polled 19 of Europe’s biggest natural gas companies, and received replies from seven.
Atmospheric methane constitutes the second largest source of global warming after carbon dioxide. However, European Union law doesn’t require companies to gather data on leaks of this colorless and odorless gas. The survey findings raise pressure on EU officials to convert their strategy for reducing emissions into tough legislation for the natural gas industry.
“We’d expect global players to be more aware of their own climate impacts,” said Constantin Zerger, head of energy and climate protection at Deutsch Umwelthilfe. “Regulatory requirements will be needed to create transparency and concrete reduction measures.”
The reply from EDP – Energias de Portugal SA, the Portuguese utility, illustrates the struggle to get detail on leaks. It was one of a number of respondents that had only estimates of emissions, not measurements. The company didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.