methane

The European Union plans to delay its methane emissions rules following opposition from member governments, according to Reuters. The postponement affects measures targeting methane leaks, a potent greenhouse gas, and highlights resistance within the bloc to parts of its climate agenda. The move is likely to draw criticism from environmental groups and scrutiny of the EU's commitment to its emissions reduction targets.

The International Gas Union has urged the European Commission to take a pragmatic approach to regulating methane emissions from the gas sector. The industry lobby says rules should be workable while still cutting emissions, amid EU efforts to tighten methane standards for imported and domestic gas. The appeal highlights ongoing tension between industry concerns and the bloc's climate ambitions.

Italy is planning a retrofit bonus from 2027 offering up to 800 euros for converting cars to LPG or methane. Reports explain how the scheme would work and when the conversion would be worthwhile for motorists. Interest is high as drivers weigh the incentive against rising fuel costs and emissions rules ahead of the scheme's launch.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is highlighting digital solutions for rice cultivation as a way to cut super pollutants such as methane across food and climate systems. Rice paddies are a major source of methane, a potent short-lived greenhouse gas, and the initiative points to technology-driven practices that can reduce emissions while supporting food production and climate goals.

The United Nations is warning that rotting food is supercharging the climate crisis, highlighting food waste as a major and underappreciated source of greenhouse gas emissions. Organic matter discarded in landfills decomposes and releases methane, a potent warming gas, and the organisation is urging countries and households to cut food loss and waste.

NASA's SPHEREx space telescope has observed 37 brown dwarfs, analysing the composition of their atmospheres, which contain clouds and methane. Brown dwarfs form like stars, from collapsing clouds of gas, but lack the mass to sustain hydrogen fusion, sharing traits with both stars and giant planets. The observations offer a clearer picture of how these objects sit between stars and planets, and are drawing interest from astronomy enthusiasts discussing the findings online.

An explainer lays out how beef production drives climate change, citing the industry's heavy emissions footprint. Raising cattle generates significant greenhouse gases, particularly methane, and requires large amounts of land and water. The piece argues that reducing beef consumption could be one of the most effective individual actions for lowering personal carbon emissions.

The European Union is reportedly considering postponing its methane emission rules for the energy sector as rising energy prices put pressure on policymakers. The proposal would delay requirements aimed at cutting methane leaks from oil and gas operations, drawing concern from climate advocates who see the rules as a key part of the bloc's emissions strategy.

Researchers have published PAWI, described as the first high-resolution, multi-class pan-Arctic wetland inventory, in the Journal of Environmental Management. The dataset is also accessible through Canada's Geo.ca map browser. It offers a detailed, classification-based mapping of wetlands across the entire Arctic region, a resource of interest for climate and permafrost scientists, since Arctic wetlands are significant sources of methane emissions.

Germany's Integrated Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System (ITMS) has moved into its second project phase. Over the next four years, researchers aim to build a permanently operational system that independently measures sources and sinks of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, drawing on measurement data from across the country to verify emissions. Scientists involved in the project are highlighting the milestone, which strengthens Germany's capacity to independently verify its climate targets.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says exporters will receive an additional year to comply with the EU's methane emissions rules. The announcement gives foreign suppliers of oil, gas and coal more time to adapt to the bloc's requirements on monitoring and limiting methane leaks before penalties apply.

Donald Trump is set to propose easing federal methane regulations for the oil and gas industry, rolling back restrictions on leaks from drilling and pipeline operations. The move is expected to draw sharp criticism from environmental groups who warn it would increase greenhouse gas emissions, while industry backers argue the current rules impose costly burdens on energy producers.

New figures highlighted by UN News show that rotting food waste releases five times more greenhouse gases than the aviation industry. The statistic underscores the huge climate cost of food that is grown, transported and then thrown away, with decomposition in landfill producing methane, a potent warming gas. It is prompting renewed calls to cut food waste as a fast, low-cost way to reduce emissions.

Researchers report a new catalyst that can convert methane at lower temperatures while maintaining its performance over time. The advance could make methane conversion processes more energy-efficient, since traditional methods require very high temperatures that drive up costs and degrade catalysts. Details of the study and its implications for the chemical industry are being shared and discussed in science-focused online communities.

The European Union will postpone its methane emissions rules for one year and no longer, the bloc's energy chief said. The rules require oil and gas exporters to cut methane leaks and flaring. The delay gives companies and trading partners more time to comply, but the energy commissioner stressed the postponement will not be extended beyond the single year.

Researchers have unveiled a new technique for monitoring methane leaks from abandoned oil and gas wells, a long-overlooked source of greenhouse gas emissions. Millions of orphaned wells worldwide are believed to leak methane, but tracking them has been difficult and costly. The method promises cheaper, more reliable detection, drawing interest from climate scientists and regulators focused on curbing emissions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says exporters will get an extra year to comply with the EU's methane emission rules, softening the timeline for the regulation that targets imports of oil, gas and coal. The reprieve gives foreign suppliers more time to meet the bloc's standards, and is likely to be welcomed by trading partners who warned of compliance burdens.

Discussion is focused on superpollutants — methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone, nitrous oxide and high-warming refrigerant gases — which warm the planet far more powerfully than carbon dioxide per tonne. These pollutants are already disrupting supply chains, agriculture, energy systems and workplaces. Advocates stress that many emissions can be slashed using technologies available today, making rapid cuts one of the most achievable ways to slow warming in the near term.

The Philippines is intensifying efforts to cut methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons as part of its goal to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent under its 2026 Nationally Determined Contribution. The move targets potent short-lived climate pollutants alongside carbon dioxide, aligning the country with international climate commitments.

A biotech startup has developed a new feed additive aimed at reducing methane emissions from cattle, one of agriculture's largest sources of greenhouse gases. The announcement is drawing attention from livestock producers, climate researchers and agrifood investors watching whether such additives can cut emissions at scale without harming animal health or farm economics.

The Trump administration and Qatar have publicly warned that the European Union's methane emissions rules could threaten global energy security. Both argue the regulations on imported oil and gas risk disrupting supplies to Europe. The criticism sets up a potential transatlantic clash over how the EU enforces its methane standards on foreign energy exporters.

Donald Trump is set to propose easing federal methane regulations on the oil and gas industry. The move would loosen restrictions requiring energy companies to control leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Environmental groups are expected to criticize the proposal, while industry players have long argued the rules are costly and burdensome.

The European Union has postponed by one year the deadline for exporters to comply with its methane emissions requirements. The rules, part of the EU's gas market regulations, require foreign suppliers to meet methane standards matching those applied to EU producers. The delay gives exporting countries more time to prepare monitoring and reporting systems, though critics may see it as weakening climate ambitions.

Ecologist Ted Schuur, walking the edge of Smith Lake in Alaska, watched bubbles of methane surface from the muck — gas produced by decomposing plants and animals once locked in frigid permafrost. The scene illustrates how thawing permafrost is releasing a potent heat-trapping gas, a feedback loop scientists warn could accelerate global warming as Arctic temperatures climb.

Reuters has published an explainer on Europe's methane emissions rules and the reasons the legislation is being delayed. The EU's methane regulation, the first of its kind, requires oil, gas and coal companies to measure, report and cut methane leaks. Delays relate to implementation timelines and concerns about costs and enforcement, making the rules a point of debate in EU climate policy.