An ambitious new law to reduce methane emissions in the energy sector was approved by the European Parliament on Tuesday (9 May), despite a last-minute attempt by the far-right and conservative lawmakers to water down the regulation.

EU lawmakers meeting in Strasbourg voted with 499 in favour, 73 against and 55 abstentions on a draft Methane Regulation, confirming a stance adopted in late April by the Parliament’s environment and industry committees.

“Today’s vote is a commitment to more climate protection and energy sovereignty in Europe,” Green MEP and lead negotiator Jutta Paulus commented after the plenary voting session in Strasbourg.

“Without ambitious measures to reduce methane emissions, Europe will miss its climate targets and valuable energy will continue to be wasted,” she added.