U.S. and Global Methane Regulation
Methane is estimated to be responsible for one-third of the global rise in temperatures from greenhouse gases; it is shorter-lived but much more potent than carbon dioxide. The United States and the European Union (E.U.) launched the Global Methane Pledge at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). At COP28’s Global Methane Pledge Ministerial last December, new strategies were announced, including the E.U.’s first-ever adoption of methane regulations and a final rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane from the oil and gas industry. On January 31, 2024, the Environmental Law Institute hosted a panel of experts to analyze these regulations, discuss strategies other countries are employing to reduce emissions, and consider whether these efforts will meet 2030 goals. This Dialogue presents a transcript of that discussion, which has been edited for style, clarity, and space considerations.