Ecologic Institute publishes three working papers that aim to support the responsible ministries and competent authorities of the EU Member States in implementing the EU Methane Emission Regulation (EU-MER) that enters into force in June 2024:

• Tasks and resources needed at the national level
• Governance at the national level: responsible ministries and the competent authorities
• Penalties and selected legal issues

The impact of the EU-MER will depend on the quality of its implementation. Even though EU regulations such as the EU-MER are directly applicable in all EU Member States, their implementation requires substantial executive action as well as some regulatory provisions at the national level. This series of papers aims to provide analysis, information and practical support, to help MS and encourage the competent authorities to implement the EU-MER effectively, thoroughly, timely and efficiently.

Methane, the second most impactful greenhouse gas, is responsible for roughly 30% of the global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution. The energy sector accounts for more than one third of the global anthropogenic methane emissions, while simultaneously offering short-term abatement potential. In 2021, together with the USA, the EU announced the Global Methane Pledge, a commitment to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% between 2020 and 2030, which was signed by 155 countries.