Fossil gas is the next frontier for energy systems decarbonisation, already responsible for a quarter of the CO2 emissions in the EU. Experts are clear: to keep in line with the Paris Agreement objectives, global fossil gas consumption must fall by around a third by 2030, and almost entirely by 2050. Policy choices taken in the coming months will need to create the conditions of a rapid phase-down of this energy source.
This briefing provides five benchmarks for a successful transition away from fossil gas in the EU legislation.
- Strengthening competition between energy solutions
- Enabling a socially just transition away from gas
- Focusing renewable hydrogen on hard-to-electrify end-uses
- Giving a central role to an independent governance body supporting the transition
- Clearly communicating the EU’s pathway globally and supporting the transition of impacted partners
