Aaron Colonnese
Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network
Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network
Reducing methane emissions, which warm the planet with 28 times the strength of carbon dioxide, could be the Environmental Protection Agency’s next focus.
On Nov. 2, the EPA proposed a new plan to protect Americans and our climate from the harmful effects of methane emissions. If adopted, these new rules would decrease methane emissions by 41 million tons through 2035, the equivalent of taking more than 200 million cars off the road for a year.
“We applaud the EPA for taking this first step toward ensuring oil and gas companies cannot freely leak methane into our atmosphere,” said Matt Casale, director of PIRG’s environment campaigns. “Holding oil and gas companies accountable and reducing methane emissions would be a significant climate victory for all Americans.”
While the plan has not yet been adopted into law, PIRG will work with the EPA to develop a final rule that is as strong as possible.
Photo: A methane flare in New Mexico. This past fall, The Biden administration signed the U.S. onto a global pledge to reduce methane emissions 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030. Credit: Blake Thornberry via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Former Content Creator, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network