In an open letter led by the Environmental Defense Fund, Bellona and other environmental and industry groups are urging leaders at COP29 to intensify efforts to harness hydrogen as an effective climate solution.
The letter stresses the importance of implementing stricter international standards for fossil-based hydrogen to ensure it contributes positively to climate goals. Three critical areas are outlined for immediate attention: methane emissions reporting, carbon capture and storage (CCS) reliability, and transparent accounting practices.
Methane emissions significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect of fossil-based hydrogen’s lifecycle. The letter highlights the necessity of using region-specific, measured data for precise emissions accounting. Reliable data ensure accurate tracking and management of emissions. The letter advocates for transparent reporting of carbon capture data, making certain that the process genuinely contributes to emission reduction goals.
To prevent “accounting gamesmanship” that could present misleading emissions reductions, accountable and verifiable facility accounting practices must be adopted. The coalition seeks a firm commitment to transparency in the hydrogen economy at COP29 to enable hydrogen to fulfill its climate potential.
Several groups are highlighting a worrying trend in the EU: environmental, biodiversity, and public health issues are becoming sidelined. They urge the EU Commission to stand firm in protecting climate, nature, and public health.
The European Commission has announced its largest-ever investment from the Innovation Fund, totaling €4.8 billion. These grants, fueled by revenues from the EU’s emissions trading scheme, aim to support groundbreaking decarbonization projects.
Achieving climate neutrality by 2050 requires Europe to optimize the use of every decarbonization technology available. Joint letters emphasize the urgent need for scaling industrial carbon management.
