The following comments were submitted on September 3, 2025 in public consultations of the European Commission, in regards to the EU's strategy to boost the global climate and energy transition.
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) Europe appreciates the opportunity to provide input regarding the development of the EU’s global climate and energy transition strategy.
Tackling global methane pollution should continue to be a core element of the EU’s global climate strategy, alongside supporting the transition away from fossil fuels.
Methane pollution is a significant contributor to the planetary warming experienced to date. Deep and sustained cuts in this source of pollution, along with the phasing out of fossil fuels, is needed to limit warming to 1.5°C. Yet, global methane emissions are increasing at rates consistent with the hottest and most polluting scenarios considered by scientists.
The EU’s continued commitment to green diplomacy and leadership on international climate initiatives is vital during these challenging times. The EU has supported global methane action, like initiating the Global Methane Pledge. However, increasing methane emission levels indicate that much more work is needed.
Leadership begins at home, as the Commission President herself noted in the 2024-2029 Political Guidelines. The EU’s ability to lead globally on methane is being put at risk by a failure to effectively curb methane pollution within the bloc. At best, the EU is projected to cut its methane pollution by about 11-12% by 2030, a far cry from the Global Methane Pledge’s 30% reduction target.1
Meaningful action requires that the EU address agricultural methane pollution, which represents close to 60% of all methane emissions within the EU. Cattle raising for beef and dairy production are responsible for most of these emissions. A shift away from industrial animal farming — particularly in high livestock density regions — can contribute to cutting a significant amount of this methane pollution. Meaningful action does not include ramping up large-scale biomethane production, which is not a solution to climate change but only risks further entrenching the industrial livestock model.
A fair transition to animal farming within nature’s limits will not take place overnight. It requires being transparent about the path forward for the sector, starting with an emissions reduction target for agriculture as part of the EU’s 2040 climate target and policy package, and sufficient support for farmers and rural communities to make, and adjust to, these changes, including dedicated funding for territorial livestock transition plans in the EU’s next budget. Support is also needed to create attractive alternative markets for farmers to grow more fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Ambitious action to cut methane pollution domestically will help the EU leverage greater action abroad. Establishing global methane pollution reduction targets for 2035 and 2040 can help guide countries, corporations and other non-state actors to undertake the actions needed to ensure the deep emissions cuts consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal are achieved.
The EU is warming faster than the global average. Rapidly reducing methane emissions can slow the rate of warming and lower the likelihood of record-breaking extreme weather. Taking bold action to reduce methane pollution in the EU, including from industrial livestock production, can help encourage greater action abroad.
Download the PDF of the submission here.
