EU Energy Chief Warns Countries on Scaling Back Methane Rules

The European Union’s energy commissioner warned the bloc risks falling behind on its climate goals if countries persist in diluting rules on cutting methane emissions in the energy sector.

The admonition from Kadri Simson comes after the EU’s 27 member states agreed last year to reduce the frequency of site inspections from the European Commission’s original proposal to tackle emissions. Parliament is due to vote on the rules later this month.

“The abatement measures were substantially weakened,” Simson told the Parliament’s chief negotiator Jutta Paulus in a letter seen by Bloomberg News. “It is important that the legislation that we ...