** Leading by example means leasing less public land
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Thursday October 14, 2021
The Bureau of Land Management leases out public lands for drilling in Utah. WildEarth Guardians, Flickr ([link removed])
Over 1,000 environmental and Indigenous groups delivered a letter to the White House yesterday, demanding President Biden end leasing, drilling, and mining on public lands. The groups claimed to have millions of signatures of support for the request, according to E&E News ([link removed]) .
"We cannot address climate in the U.S. if we don't address the leasing program," Nicole Ghio, fossil fuels program manager at the nonprofit Friends of the Earth, told E&E News. "This is something people have been fighting for for years, to the extent that Biden, during his campaign, actually campaigned on this."
Fossil fuels extracted from public lands account for nearly a quarter ([link removed]) of the nation’s carbon emissions, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. An academic study ([link removed]) estimates that ending new fossil fuel leasing would reduce those emissions by 280 million tons per year. That's roughly equivalent to taking 55 million cars off the road each year.
The petition comes as the United States prepares to participate in COP 26, a global climate conference ([link removed]) , in Glasgow. The United States is one of the world's biggest polluters, so it's incumbent on us to lead by example. Reforming the outdated leasing system and leasing less public land to oil and gas companies would send a strong message to the global community that the United States is committed to addressing the problem of climate change in a meaningful way.
Instead, the Biden administration is moving forward with plans to lease over 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for drilling, locking in decades of pollution ([link removed]) . Biden is also planning to lease up to 700,000 acres in the West ([link removed]) , which will lock in even more emissions in addition to degrading our public lands.
But it doesn't have to be this way. The Biden administration could offer a small fraction of those leases and still meet its obligations under law. It could also make changes to the leasing program, like ending the wasteful practice of non-competitive leasing ([link removed]) and increasing bonding requirements ([link removed]) . We encourage President Biden to use his executive authority to do so.
** Deb Haaland's successor on the role of climate in politics
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Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury represents New Mexico’s 1st congressional district, which includes her hometown of Albuquerque. She took office in the summer of 2021, replacing now-Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
She came on our podcast ([link removed]) , The Landscape, to talk about running on a climate platform, centering climate in the reconciliation process, and the tough challenges facing New Mexico related to climate change.
Quick hits
** Utah lawmakers falsely claim tribes don't support Bears Ears restoration
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HuffPost ([link removed])
** Indigenous and green groups denounce mining, drilling on public lands
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Hunt and Fish coalition submits suggestions for 30x30
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E ([link removed]) &E News ([link removed])
** Reservations end for Rocky Mountain National Park
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Denver Post ([link removed])
** Police in Utah outdoor destinations struggle to keep up
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** Biden greatly expands offshore wind opportunities
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Bloomberg Green ([link removed])
** Opinion: The healing work of Bears Ears has just begun
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Outside ([link removed])
** The global biodiversity conference you've probably never heard of
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New York Times ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Utah elected officials like Senators Romney and Lee are trying to incite division between Indigenous Peoples, tribal leaders, and communities... Ultimately, these lawmakers’ statements are invalidated by their position within a party that promotes the violation of treaty and Indigenous rights.”
— Jade Begay, director of NDN Collective’s climate justice campaign, HuffPost ([link removed])
Picture this
** @ ([link removed]) BLMIdaho ([link removed])
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Take in the view, learn and lend a hand to #YourPublicLands ([link removed]) ! Join us in celebrating #NPLD ([link removed]) at Dedication Point in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA on Oct. 22nds & 23rd from 9am - 2pm. Spots are limited, so sign up soon at [link removed] ([link removed]) !
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