The European Union, the United States, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore and the United Kingdom signed on Friday a Joint Declaration of Energy Importers and Exporters on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
The signatories of the pact, signed on the sidelines of the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt, commit to taking “immediate measures” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and consumption of fossil energy.
“Every fraction of a degree counts in our fight to preserve our planet for future generations. By working together to tackle methane, we can reduce warming by 0.1°C by mid-century,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in a statement distributed in Brussels.
The signatories commit to work towards the creation of an international fossil energy market that minimizes methane and CO2 emissions throughout the value chain to the greatest extent possible, while working to progressively reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
Reducing emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases from the fossil energy sector also improves energy security by reducing flaring, venting and avoidable leaks that waste natural gas, stressed the vice president of the Community Executive responsible for the Pact European Green, Frans Timmermans.
And it is that, according to the Dutch politician, “the energy sector offers great potential to obtain rapid results through the detection and rapid repair of leaks and the limitation of venting and flaring”.
The Commission added that these measures will also improve citizens’ health by removing black carbon and other associated air pollutants.
This pact is a continuation of the launch of the Global Commitment on Methane at the last COP26, which was held in the United Kingdom, to reduce collective anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% compared to 2020 levels by 2030.
“The EU and the US launched the Global Methane Commitment at COP26 last year and more than 100 partners have joined us. Now we need to go ahead and deliver these reductions, and we need more emitters to join us.” important,” Timmermans urged.
The Global Methane Commitment is an essential strategy to reduce near-term warming and keep the 1.5°C temperature rise limit within reach.
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson recalled that the EU has already proposed legislation to reduce harmful methane emissions in the energy sector and said she hopes to work with international partners to “step up efforts”.
“Reducing emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases from the fossil energy sector will help us strengthen our energy security,” Simson said.