Methane, which warms the planet with 80 times the strength of carbon dioxide in its first 20 years in the atmosphere, is a major contributor to the climate crisis. Tell the EPA: Strong methane pollution standards are crucial for our climate. TAKE ACTION:
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Friend,
Newly proposed federal rules on methane could mean a decrease in climate-warming pollution equivalent to taking 200 million cars off the road for an entire year.[1]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting comments on its new emissions standards for this extremely potent greenhouse gas, which warms the planet with 80 times the strength of carbon dioxide in its first 20 years in the atmosphere.[2]
To protect our climate and ensure oil and gas companies will no longer be allowed to freely leak methane into our atmosphere, we need the EPA's regulations to be as strong as possible. Take action by submitting your public comment before the Jan. 14 deadline.
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Last year, in Florida, a gas pipeline was likely the cause of a 12-mile-wide, 300-metric-ton methane cloud in the air.[3] Over in Texas, the massive Permian oil basin represents the largest methane flux ever reported from a U.S. oil- or gas-producing region.[4]
These are just two examples of the urgent need to protect our health and our planet by curbing emissions of this dangerous gas -- and in particular, holding oil and gas companies accountable to strong emissions standards.
That can't happen unless our policymakers act, and act quickly. We're seeing movement in the right direction, as our country recently signed onto a global pledge to reduce methane emissions 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.[5] But pledges are only as good as the action that backs them up -- so we need all hands on deck to make sure our federal leaders step up for our health and our planet.
Are you with us, Friend?
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There's no question we are at a critical moment in the fight against climate change.
The wildfires, floods, hurricanes and other severe weather events we've encountered in the last few years have forced us to acknowledge that the climate crisis is here, now. But so are the solutions, and recent legislative momentum for slashing emissions -- such as the climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act and bipartisan infrastructure package -- represents a massive opportunity to put those solutions into action.
The same is true for the EPA's proposed methane standards. Methane doesn't stay in the atmosphere nearly as long as carbon dioxide, so if we move quickly to cut emissions from both new and existing facilities, it would have an immediate effect on global warming.[6] Plus, it would also help protect communities across the U.S. by reducing unhealthy air pollution.[7]
Slashing methane emissions is a no-brainer, and the EPA needs to know where Americans stand on this crucial issue. Add your name before the deadline on Jan. 14 to ensure the new federal rules on methane are as strong as possible.
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Thank you,
Faye Park
President
1. "Statement: New plan to slash methane emissions key to addressing climate change," U.S. PIRG, November 2, 2021.
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2. "Natural Gas Is Bad for Climate Change. Trump's Methane Proposal Makes It Worse.," Frontier Group, August 29, 2019.
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3. Naureen S. Malik, "Florida Offers Pipeline Clue in Mystery of Giant Methane Leak," Bloomberg News, July 31, 2020.
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4. Yuzhong Zhang et. al., "Quantifying methane emissions from the largest oil-producing basin in the United States from space," Science, April 22, 2020.
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5. "Statement: New plan to slash methane emissions key to addressing climate change," U.S. PIRG, November 2, 2021.
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6. Jeff Brady, "Biden joins global push to cut climate-warming methane emissions," NPR, November 2, 2021.
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7. "U.S. to Sharply Cut Methane Pollution that Threatens the Climate and Public Health," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nov. 2, 2021.
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U.S. PIRG
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