EU and US seal joint efforts against_CO2 with five countries

The Joint Declaration of Energy Importers and Exporters, signed on the sidelines of the Climate Summit, has also been joined by Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

The European Union, the United States, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore and the United Kingdom signed on Friday a Joint Declaration of Energy Importers and Exporters on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels. The signatories of the pact, signed on the sidelines of the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt, commit to take “immediate measures” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and consumption of fossil energy.

“Every fraction of a degree counts in our fight to preserve our planet for future generations. Working together to tackle methane, we can reduce warming by 0.1 degrees Celsius by mid-century,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement distributed in Brussels. The signatories commit to work towards the creation of an international fossil energy market that minimizes methane and_CO2 emissions throughout the value chain to the greatest extent possible, while working to progressively reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Reducing emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases from the fossil energy sector also improves energy security by reducing avoidable flaring, venting and leakage that waste natural gas, said Frans Timmermans, Vice President of the EU Executive responsible for the European Green Deal. According to the Dutch politician, the energy sector offers great potential for rapid results by quickly detecting and repairing leaks and limiting venting and torch combustion.

The EC added that these measures will also improve citizens’ health by removing black carbon and other associated air pollutants. This pact is a continuation of the launch of the Global Methane Commitment at COP26, which was held in the United Kingdom, to reduce collective anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30% compared to 2020 levels by 2030. “The EU and the US launched the Global Methane Commitment at COP26 last year and more than 100 partners have joined us. Now we have to go ahead and get these reductions, and we need more major emitters to join us,” Timmermans urged.

The Global Methane Commitment is an essential strategy to reduce warming in the short term and keep the 1.5°C limit of temperature increase within reach. European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson recalled that the EU has already proposed legislation to reduce harmful methane emissions in the energy sector and said she looks forward to working with international partners to “intensify efforts”. “Reducing methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from the fossil energy sector will help us strengthen our energy security,” Simson said.

Source: La Información