The EIA has sent the following letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on behalf of 35 NGOs, expressing deep concerns about the EU’s stance on methane mitigation and the global warming crisis following COP29 and the US Presidential election. We urge her to take a leadership role on this critical issue.
Dear President Von der Leyen,
We, a coalition of non-profit organisations working on methane mitigation, are writing to you in the wake of COP29 and the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Ministerial. We stress the urgency of prioritising and integrating methane mitigation as a key focus over the next five years.
While the GMP was co-launched by the U.S. and the EU in 2021, much of the momentum over the past three years has been driven through U.S. and EU partnership, which is now uncertain following the results of the most recent U.S. election. This momentum cannot be allowed to derail. Methane’s role as a potent greenhouse gas cannot be overlooked. With its short atmospheric lifespan, reducing methane emissions offers one of the most immediate and effective strategies to slow global heating. The science is unequivocal: we are rapidly approaching 2030, yet decisive action can secure meaningful climate benefits in the critical, final years of the GMP.
At present, the GMP stands at a crossroads. The COP29 Methane Ministerial yielded a series of encouraging developments, including new financial commitments, additional signatories and new initiatives targeting methane reduction across the energy and waste sectors. These steps reaffirm the critical role of methane mitigation in addressing the climate crisis. However, progress toward achieving the GMP ambitious goal remains alarmingly slow. Insufficient financial support for developing countries and a lack of widespread regulatory adoption are hindering progress, particularly in the agriculture sector, which continues to be absent from meaningful action.
The undersigned organisations urge the European Union to reaffirm and expand its leadership in this diplomatic effort. This entails both domestic and international actions. Within the EU, it is imperative to ensure the effective implementation of the Methane Regulation in the energy sector all the while simultaneously steering the EU’s trajectory to transition away from fossil fuels. In the agriculture sector, this requires transforming the EU food system away from industrial animal agriculture and towards more sustainable practices and consumption patterns for better health and climate. Robust waste separation can also accelerate efforts in the waste sector. The Commission can support Member States in leading on methane by becoming GMP Champions; developing national action plans; advancing projects aligned with the Methane Abatement Partnership Roadmap; as well as raising awareness about the role of methane in climate change and the urgency of methane emissions mitigation. It is crucial for the EU to not only continue to lead on climate action and resist any pressure to weaken its methane commitments, but also to strongly encourage key partners like the U.S. to do so as well in the coming years. The EU must also include a methane mitigation target in its NDC supported by clear, targeted measures to ensure effective implementation.
Internationally, the EU must spearhead the mobilisation of public finance, particularly in the form of grants, to support developing countries. Of the 159 GMP signatories, 111 are official development assistance (ODA) recipients, and additional financial support will be critical to support ministries efforts to prioritise methane in national planning. It should also lead efforts to strengthen the governance framework of the GMP, prioritising the establishment of a financial mechanism for methane. The EU should continue convening GMP signatories to sustain and expand momentum, while providing robust support to initiatives such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the International Methane Emissions Observatory to drive coordinated global action.
Decisive action is essential to ensure that the GMP becomes a cornerstone of the global climate strategy rather than a missed opportunity. Your leadership is pivotal in maintaining methane as a priority on the international agenda and in ensuring that these critical years yield tangible results. We request the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you or your staff via an online or in-person meeting.
We thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Rice
Executive Director
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
On behalf of:
Methane Matters Coalition
Changing Markets Foundation
Food and Water Action Europe
Clean Air Task Force
Environmental Action Germany (DUH)
Feedback EU
Ecodes
Instrat
Zero Waste Europe
Ember
Recourse
CEE Bankwatch Network
Andy Gheorghiu Consulting
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Clean Air Action Group, Hungary
Habitat Recovery Project
Fishermen Involved in Sustaining our Heritage (FISH)
Oilfield Witness
Innovation pour le Développement et la Protection de l'Environnement
Polish Green Network
Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne EKO-UNIA, Poland
Workshop for All Beings
Zero Hour
Hawkmoth
Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation
Say No to LNG Campaign
Vessel Project of Louisiana.
Freeport Haven Project
Better Brazoria: Clean Air & Water
Gulf of Mexico Youth Climate Summit
Urgewald
Mothers Rise Up UK
For a Better Bayou
TalamhBeo
