Chair Castor Applauds President Biden's Move To Urgently Cut Methane Pollution

WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, Chair Kathy Castor of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released the following statement after President Biden announced strong new safeguards from the Environmental Protection Agency to urgently reduce methane pollution from the oil and natural gas industry in the United States, while also launching the Global Methane Pledge to partner with over 100 countries to reduce global emissions by nearly 30% by the end of the decade:
 
“With today’s announcements, President Biden is showing the world that America is willing to put in the work to urgently reduce pollution and solve the climate crisis,” said Castor. “Cutting harmful methane pollution at a rapid clip is one of the most powerful ways to meet our near-term climate goals, which is why it is a key component of our Climate Crisis Action Plan. And as this year's costly disasters have proven, it's imperative we take immediate action and lead the world through our example if we are to keep global temperatures in check.

“The latest IPCC report warned us of the need to move quickly to reduce global emissions of methane, a super-pollutant that can trap 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term. And cutting methane waste from the oil and gas industry is not only necessary; it's also a win-win for American families, who will see lower gas prices and a cleaner environment. President Biden’s actions today follow the science and will protect American families and future generations.”
 

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Background:

• Chair Castor op-ed on reducing methane pollution (NYT - 8/9/21): To Address the Climate Crisis, Focus on More Than Carbon Dioxide
• In June of 2020, the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Democrats released the majority staff report Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America. This report provides a roadmap for Congress—a Climate Crisis Action Plan—to build a prosperous, clean energy economy that values workers, advances environmental justice, and is prepared to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.
• House Democrats have already passed more than 250 of the recommendations in the Climate Crisis Action Plan, and have successfully worked to turn over 100 of them into law.