Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC — Today, the Department of the Interior released its final report calling for reforms of the current fossil fuel leasing program on public lands and offshore.
In response, Athan Manuel, Sierra Club Lands Protection Program Director, released the following statement:
“We applaud the Biden administration for recognizing the serious flaws in the current oil and gas leasing program and making long-overdue reforms. But to truly tackle the climate crisis, we need to phase out all new leasing for fossil fuels on public lands and offshore— activities that contribute to nearly a quarter of this country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“We must work together to safeguard and expand protections for the lands, water, and biodiversity on which our communities depend. We urge the Biden administration to build on this report by phasing out new oil and gas leasing altogether, and we call on Congress to include these reforms in the final Build Back Better Act to ensure that our public lands are part of the climate solution, instead of enriching oil company CEOs at the public’s expense.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.