This last weekend, the Biden administration issues a new rule that is intended to lower methane emissions. The rule singles out the oil and natural gas industry in the United States, as they are one of the country’s biggest contributors to climate change. President Joe Biden made many promises to reduce our global environmental impact and this new rule is a part of those plans.
The Environmental Protection Agency released a statement following the announcement of the rule stating that they have a few goals that they hope to see reached from this. Most obviously, the rule is meant to lower the pollution of methane and other toxic/harmful pollutants produced by the oil and gas industry. However, as a result of that, it also will ideally promote more frequent use of innovative methane detection technology as well as create more beneficial side effects for the people. These side effects would be less frequent hospital visits, less loss of school days, and fewer deaths, all things that happen as a result of climate change.
The rule includes harsher restrictions regarding the use of methane.
The announcement of the rule came at a meeting of the United Nations in the United Arab Emirates. Also, at the meeting came a separate announcement that 50 oil companies who are responsible for approximately half of the production of oil globally have all agreed to reach nearly zero methane emissions by the year of 2030. They also pledged to end their routine flaring in their business operations.
The highest ranked American at the meeting was Vice President Kamala Harris. At the meeting, she gave a speech regarding the new United States rule and climate change as a whole. She said, “The urgency of this moment is clear. The clock is no longer just ticking. It is banging.”
The Biden Administration is making further strides towards healing from and preventing further climate change issues.
Currently, there are some actions in place that are meant to drive us in a better direction. For example, there are some financial incentives in place to promote the purchasing of electric vehicles and/or upgrade infrastructure to promote better use of resources.
