The IEA report highlights the crucial need for strong EPA methane rules for oil and gas.
Background: The IEA will release a report today titled “Pathways to a 75% Cut in Methane Emissions from Fossil Fuel Operations by 2030.” The report builds off of the IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 Scenario, which was published in May 2021. The IEA was created by developed economies in response to the 1973 oil shock to secure continued oil supplies for a global economy dependent on oil. It is perhaps the most consulted and international authority on energy of all sorts. Currently the U.S. EPA is working on an update to the 2016 Obama administration rules to limit methane pollution from the oil and gas sector which will be released later this year. The EPA administrator Michael Regan has already indicated that these will be the “most comprehensive” methane rules to date and congress is also looking into measures to reduce methane pollution through reconciliation.
Statement of Lauren Pagel, Earthworks Policy Director:
“This is a pivotal moment. The Biden administration can either be a leader on methane pollution or cave to industry and risk climate catastrophe. The EPA has the authority under the Clean Air Act to cut oil and gas methane pollution by 65% by 2025. Their new rules must use that full authority.
“While cutting methane is a vital start, it is not enough. The U.S. must begin a managed decline of fossil fuels that centers industry workers and frontline communities who are most exposed to the health and climate impacts of fossil fuels.”