London, 6 October 2026 10:00 BST – 55 leading institutional investors, representing over €9 trillion in assets under management, have renewed their call for the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States to maintain and implement the EU Methane Emissions Regulation (EU MER) as adopted, including its timeline and core provisions.
The investors warn that delaying or weakening the regulation would undermine regulatory certainty, increase uncertainty for companies already preparing to comply and slow progress on reducing methane emissions.
This is an updated edition of the investor statement first published by IIGCC in October 2025. The substance of the statement remains unchanged, while its backing has grown to 55 signatories representing over €9 trillion in assets under management.
The renewed call comes at a critical point in the regulation’s implementation, amid consideration of a one-year postponement to monitoring, reporting and verification requirements for fossil-fuel imports currently due to apply from January 2027.
The signatories stress that regulatory clarity is critical for companies and markets as they prepare for compliance and manage long-term risks. Strong monitoring, reporting and verification requirements provide accountability, help investors manage portfolio risks and support companies’ operational resilience and long-term competitiveness.
Reducing oil and gas methane emissions remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to limit near-term global warming. Performance on methane is also increasingly viewed as an indicator of management quality, operational excellence and process safety – all factors linked to long-term shareholder value.
The investor statement urges EU policymakers to:
The investors recognise that importers may face legitimate implementation challenges. However, they argue that these should be addressed through clear, harmonised guidance and the practical compliance solutions available – not through delay or dilution.
Investor quotes
Vincent Kaufmann, CEO, Ethos Foundation: “Ethos was founded by pension funds, for pension funds, and their beneficiaries count on an economy that stays healthy for decades to come. Few climate measures deliver results as quickly or as cost-effectively as cutting methane. The monitoring, reporting and verification rules in the EU Methane Regulation also give investors the reliable data they need to assess how companies manage methane. Delaying or weakening them would leave investors less informed, not less exposed.”
Eric Christian Pedersen, Head of Responsible Investments, Nordea Asset Management: "As investors we rely on predictable rules and credible information for effective capital allocation, risk assessment and long-term planning. The EU Methane Regulation provides a robust framework to address a material source of climate and operational risk. It also signals that methane performance matters. Reopening or delaying these rules risks creating more uncertainty for companies already preparing for compliance and potentially rewards laggards, rather than resolving the practical questions that remain. The focus should be on identifying workable solutions that help industry comply while keeping the regulation’s ambition and timeline intact."
Rikke Berg Jacobsen, Head of ESG, AkademikerPension: “We recognise Europe’s energy security concerns, but delaying the EU Methane Regulation would weaken transparency and accountability at a time when proven solutions to cut methane emissions are already available. For long-term investors, clear and predictable rules are essential for managing risk and supporting effective climate action. The priority should be to address practical implementation challenges without weakening the regulation’s ambition or delaying implementation.”
Fredric Nyström, Senior Strategist, sustainability and stewardship, AP3: "AP3 supports policy frameworks that contribute to well-functioning markets and help address long-term systemic risks. Reducing methane emissions is a cost-effective way to mitigate climate-related risks and strengthen the resilience of the global economy. We believe that clear and predictable regulation provides an important foundation for long-term investment and sustainable value creation."
Tim Manuel, Head of Responsible Investment, Border to Coast Pensions Partnership: "This isn’t the time to step back from regulation that helps investors manage systemic risks."
Laura Hillis, Managing Director, Responsible Investment, Church of England Pensions Board: "Methane is one of the cheapest and most efficient emissions cuts available to the oil and gas industry. Companies have known this regulation was coming for years, and further attempts to delay it raise governance concerns and undermine claims that the industry is serious about addressing climate change.
Companies with robust transition plans and well-run assets should be ready to disclose their performance and support the rules taking effect on time. For investors and the broader economy, the best outcome is no further delay in implementing this important regulation."
Rasmus Bessing, Managing Director, ESG Investments & Products, PFA: “The EU Methane Emissions Regulation is a vital tool for reducing methane emissions from both domestic production and imports. As a long-term investor, we believe maintaining a robust and predictable framework will benefit both the climate and Europe's future competitiveness and energy security."
Harry Ashman, Senior Engagement Specialist, Robeco: "To provide the regulatory certainty essential for investment decision making we support the swift implementation of the EU Methane Emissions Regulation (EU MER) as already adopted. There are clear commercial benefits for companies and investors in managing methane emissions, as well as it being a vital lever for mitigating climate change in the short term. A focus on implementation is now required to ensure companies accelerate their efforts and realise these positive financial and climate impacts."
Jacob Ehlerth Jørgensen, Chief ESG Officer & Head of Investment Analysis, Sampension: "Strong methane rules are important for managing climate and financial risks for institutional investors. Cutting methane emissions is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to curb near-term warming, while clear regulation gives companies and investors the certainty needed to make long-term decisions.
The EU Methane Regulation provides a sound framework. The focus now should be on consistent and timely implementation, not delays or dilution that risk undermining confidence, creating uncertainty, and penalising early movers that have already invested time and resources in preparing for compliance."
Tamara Hardegger, Managing Director, Swiss Association for Responsible Investment: “Methane abatement is one of the clearest low-hanging fruits in the energy transition. The EU Methane Regulation helps secure cost-effective emissions reductions in one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, creating value for investors and delivering measurable climate impact.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Tommaso Mazzanti
Media Relations Senior Manager, IIGCC
tmazzanti@iigcc.org