Methane, climate change and air quality in Europe: exploring the connections

This briefing is intended to support future European Commission policy action on methane abatement at the national, EU and international levels. Such actions will contribute to innovative solutions in the industry, agriculture and food sectors.

Key messages

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and a major contributor to ground-level ozone. Further action is needed to control and reduce methane emissions, as well as other ozone precursors, at the European and international levels to mitigate climate change, improve air quality and reduce health impacts.

Methane is responsible for 12% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. While methane emissions are decreasing in the EU, global methane emissions and the relative contribution of methane to global warming is increasing. Global methane emissions also significantly influence ground-level ozone concentrations in Europe. ​

Ground-level ozone harms human health and is linked to respiratory diseases and premature deaths. In the EU, it remains above levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), with 94% of the EU’s urban population exposed to harmful levels. Staying within WHO’s Air Quality Guideline values could potentially prevent 70,000 premature deaths annually in the EU.​

Ground-level ozone also impacts ecosystems and agricultural production. It reduces growth rates and crop yields and is estimated to cause at least EUR 2 billion in damage to food crops every year in Europe.