From coast to coast, extreme weather has defined the start of 2024. Rains and flooding have impacted towns and cities from the northeast to California. Schools and daycares have closed, disrupting learning and family logistics. In the south, late-season tornadoes have devastated communities. Climate change is here, and it's hurting our families now.

Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant that has more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Fortunately, thanks to our advocacy, the tide is turning. The Biden administration has just temporarily paused export approvals of new liquified methane gas facilities, known as LNG. And late last year, the EPA finalized Clean Air Act protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry.

Now, the EPA has announced that they are taking additional steps to hold polluters accountable for the amount of methane released into the atmosphere by creating a new charge on polluters that exceed specific annual limits. The comment period closes on March 26, and the EPA has requested you act as soon as possible so they have time to review your message. Please comment today!

This action is part of the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, established through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which is the most important climate legislation in the history of the United States. The IRA only happened because of years of grassroots advocacy from people like you. Now, you have a chance to make sure our government takes methane pollution seriously and passes the strongest possible pollution fees.

Oil and gas companies are the most significant industrial source of methane. Reducing methane pollution from these corporations is the fastest, most cost-effective way to slow climate change immediately.

By facing expensive consequences for polluting our air with methane, the oil and gas industry will be incentivized to stop. We recently had a public hearing where activists like you outnumbered the fossil fuel industry by the dozens. But we can't stop now, big polluters will do everything they can to get out of paying for contaminating the air we breathe, water we drink, and climate we depend on!

Take action to make sure polluters pay their fair share today!

With critical and enforceable safeguards, we can protect the climate we all depend on and build a more livable future for our children. We can stand with frontline communities by ensuring that dangerous oil and gas pollution will no longer jeopardize anyone's health and safety.

The Methane Emission Reduction Program also includes over a billion in funding to reduce methane emissions for states, tribal agencies, communities, and operators. So far, the EPA and the Department of Energy have already announced the commitment of $350 million in funding to 14 states to help mitigate methane emissions at end-of-life wells.

The existence of this program is already a huge victory thanks to you and the thousands of other changemakers who worked to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and fight for a healthy environment -- BUT the fight is not over. We now have to act to ensure polluters' penalties match the scope of the crisis.

Speak up as soon as possible to compel decision makers to institute the strongest possible Methane Reduction Program. And remember to add a personal comment about why this action matters to you.

Thank you for your continued advocacy.

Mahyar Sorour
Director, Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy
Sierra Club