The European Green Deal, a transformative initiative shaping the EU’s future, has achieved a historic breakthrough with an agreement to limit methane emissions continent-wide.

The European Parliament and the Council of Europe have collaboratively endorsed measures to control methane emissions within Europe and throughout supply chains connected to the European economy.

Recognising methane’s significant impact on climate change and public health, this agreement signifies a pivotal step in the broader European Green Deal’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030.

Key Points included in the agreement

  • Methane Emissions Control: The agreement imposes strict control mechanisms on sectors contributing to environmental pollution, particularly in the energy and fossil fuel industries. Companies will be obliged to publish the amount of their emissions, fostering transparency and accountability.
  • Structural Changes: The accord is anticipated to bring about structural changes in critical sectors, aligning their activities with environmentally responsible practices.
  • European Green Deal Objectives: The European Green Deal aims to achieve climate neutrality by ensuring that pollutants emitted by European production are equal to or ideally less than those absorbed by the planet through natural processes. This agreement on methane emissions aligns with the broader vision of making the European economy the world’s most modern and environmentally sustainable by the mid-21st century.
  • Greek Government’s Commitment: Greece, under the leadership of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, considers the Green Transition a central focus for the 2023-2027 period. The government’s objectives include generating 80 per cent of Greek electricity from Renewable Energy Sources by the end of the decade, upgrading over 600,000 homes for energy efficiency, achieving 20 per cent zero or low-emission vehicles by 2027, constructing 45 advanced waste management plants by 2025, and reforesting at least 165,000 acres by the same year.
  • Leadership Role: Prime Minister Mitsotakis aims to position Greece as a crucial energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. This involves substantial investments in LNG import facilities and modern distribution networks to mainland Europe, showcasing Greece’s commitment not only to the European green transition but also to playing a leading role in shaping and advancing environmentally friendly practices.