BRUSSELS — The European Commission is betting that profit-hungry gas and oil companies will continue exporting into Europe next year, despite industry claims that the new climate rules will force them to seek other markets.
Fossil fuel companies and member countries say new EU rules requiring them to track emissions of methane — a potent greenhouse gas — beginning in 2027 will be impossible to comply with in time, diverting vast chunks of the EU’s supply as exporters strain to avoid legal risk.
But the EU executive doesn’t buy their rhetoric and has resisted calls to reopen the legislation, which could give member countries and lawmakers an opportunity to radically weaken the law designed to mitigate one of the top causes of global warming.
Instead, it is preparing guidelines advising EU member governments to hold off on fining offenders for three years. While that doesn’t officially remove the requirements, it would suspend enforcement to give companies more time to comply.
