Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org or +14129998223 (WhatsApp)
SHARM EL-SHEIKH -- During his speech at COP27 this afternoon, President Biden pointed to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) -- the largest climate bill in history -- and the Senate ratifying the Kigali Amendment as key indicators of US progress on climate. Additionally, President Biden touted the long-awaited Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supplemental methane rule announced earlier today -- which aims to establish strong, commonsense protections against methane and other harmful pollution from the oil and gas industry. He also highlighted a new rule requiring major federal contractors to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set targets for their reduction in line with the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. Among his announcements, he also committed to doubling the US pledge to the Adaptation Fund; launching a new initiative to support Egypt in deploying 10 gigawatts of clean energy and retiring five gigawatts of methane gas generation; launching a Climate Gender Equity Fund and an Indigenous Peoples Finance Access Facility; and more
Further details on both the methane rule and the federal contractor emissions rule are below the quotes.
In response to the announcements, the Sierra Club’s Senior International Climate and Policy Director Cherelle Blazer, Sierra Club Senior Director of Energy Campaigns Kelly Sheehan, and Sierra Club Living Economy Director Hebah Kassem released the following statements:
Cherelle Blazer said, “In addition to the success of the Inflation Reduction Act and the ratification of the Kigali Amendment, we’re encouraged by the Biden Administration announcing this long-awaited methane rule and critically needed federal contractor emissions guidelines, both of which, if implemented justly, are an important part of the United States being able to reach its climate goals. These rules must not be the end of progress but rather a continuation of the work that will be built upon in the coming months and years."
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Kelly Sheehan said, “For decades, operators of existing oil and gas equipment have been allowed to spew vast amounts of methane and pollutants without regard for the consequences for our climate or public health. Now, the EPA is finally establishing safeguards against methane pollution from existing oil and gas infrastructure, while at the same time strengthening Obama-era standards for new equipment. These safeguards will curb the harmful impacts of air pollution emitted by this industry, which disproportionately affect vulnerable and frontline communities.
“EPA’s proposal is strong, but the agency must go further and clearly prohibit the practice of routine flaring of gas at well sites in its final rule. Our work to slash methane and other pollution from oil and gas equipment is not done, but we are one step closer to environmental justice, slowing the rate of climate change and keeping everyone's air clean and safe to breathe.”
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Hebah Kassem said, “The proposed Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience rule by the Biden Administration is another step forward in the initiative to lower industrial carbon emissions across the U.S. supply chain. Although this is a positive development, important metrics for success must include the reduction of toxic pollution from industrial facilities that disproportionately burden frontline communities and workers, in addition to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The long-term dividends of this expanded approach, in concert with efforts undertaken by other governments, promise to benefit the global community.
“We look forward to the government raising and expanding its standards to cover pollution beyond greenhouse gas emissions and tackle harm done to land, water, biodiversity and human health during the full life-cycle of a product to ensure that U.S. climate goals deliver both a greener industry and environmental justice.”
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About the Supplemental Methane Rule Proposal
This proposal improves upon a draft rule that EPA issued last November to curb methane from the oil and gas sector. If finalized, the rule framework will achieve 87% methane reductions from covered sources compared to 2005 levels. This updated standard will strengthen leak detection and repair requirements, including those for those small wells; maintain zero-emitting equipment requirements for pneumatic controllers and extend them to pneumatic pumps; allow third parties to perform their own monitoring and emissions tracking; and establish requirements for abandoned wells. A strong methane rule will help the United States meet its more ambitious emissions reduction commitments expected to be unveiled at the global climate conference. To learn more, read our release on the announcement here.
About The Federal Contractor Emissions Rule
The Federal Supplier Climate Risks and Resilience Proposed Rule will help the U.S. achieve its climate goals and expand markets for contractors who set and meet emissions reduction targets. With resources made available through provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to assist industry with this transition, the latest announcement is timely. Sierra Club also looks forward to additional guidelines on how these efforts align with the administration’s parallel goal of addressing harm to disadvantaged communities that have traditionally been marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by toxic climate pollution. To learn more, read our release on the announcement here.
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.