Background: Biden acted to overturn the Trump rescission of Obama’s national methane safeguards. In the consequent rulemaking, he’s widely expected to go beyond simply reinstating Obama-era safeguards to address the increasing severity of the climate crisis.
Statement by Earthworks Policy Director Lauren Pagel:
“President Biden’s sweeping action signals an urgent and necessary shift toward climate science, not self-serving industry boardrooms, governing oil and gas climate policy in the United States.
“The increasing severity of the climate crisis demands bold and immediate action in the coming weeks and months, including utilizing the Clean Air Act to the fullest extent of the law to cut oil and gas methane pollution 65% by 2025.
“More importantly, this administration must hasten the transition away from fossil fuels and toward more just and equitable energy policies. The rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline must be only the beginning. The Biden-Harris administration must stop the continued expansion of oil and gas facilities that sacrifice frontline communities and, too often, disproportionately impact historically marginalized people.”
