In a bold step towards combating global warming, a new federal rule was issued this past Saturday which directly targets the oil and gas industry's methane emissions. Methane emissions have been identified by scientists and environmental experts as a primary factor behind the acceleration of global warming and climate change. This new regulation signifies a significant shift in governmental efforts to curb harmful emissions and reduce the country's carbon footprint.
1. A new federal rule was issued targeting the oil and gas industry's methane emissions in an effort to combat global warming.
2. Methane emissions have been identified as a primary factor behind the acceleration of global warming and climate change.
3. The new regulation indicates a significant shift in governmental efforts to reduce harmful emissions and the country's carbon footprint.
4. The rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), focuses on limiting the amount of methane that oil and gas operations can release into the atmosphere.
5. Methane is around 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Thus, the implications of this regulation are substantial for both the oil and gas industry and global efforts to curb climate change.
According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the oil and gas industry is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the U.S., responsible for nearly one-third of all methane emissions in 2014.
The rule, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), focuses on limiting the amount of methane that oil and gas operations may release into the atmosphere. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change. Indeed, it is approximately 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, according to the EPA. Thus, the implications of this regulation are significant, not only for the oil and gas industry, but for global efforts to mitigate climate change.