What EPA’s new limits on methane mean for addressing climate change

It was a big week for action on the climate crisis. As global leaders meet to address climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a final rule to limit methane emissions.

As background, methane releases represent roughly one-third of the current greenhouse-gas emissions impact globally. While their volume is far less than that of carbon dioxide releases, methane is far more potent in its atmospheric warming effect on a ton-for-ton basis. Some call it a “super-polluter.” It’s such a major issue in the efforts to control climate change that the EPA announced the changes at the United Nations climate conference being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among other agreements also announced at the climate conference, 50 oil companies, representing nearly half of global production, pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine methane flaring by 2030.

Primarily, humanity releases methane from oil and gas wells and operations. To address this, the new EPA methane emissions limits, unlike those in previous proposals, apply to existing wells and smaller wells, not just large new wells. Furthermore, the new rules will be combined with a new fee on oil & gas production methane emissions authorized by the climate-action provisions in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Methane limits will protect communities

In response to the announcement, Tiernan Sittenfeld, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) explained the impact these limits will have on communities. “These new safeguards to reduce methane pollution will have a huge impact on fighting the climate crisis and protecting the health of communities who live next to oil and gas operations — which are often low-income communities and communities of color.” She continues, “As the world experiences record-breaking temperatures and more increasingly devastating extreme weather events, the case for climate action, reducing methane and other climate pollutants, and holding the oil and gas industry accountable has never been clearer or more urgent.”

To conclude, LCV applauds the Biden-Harris administration for their “leadership in reducing harmful methane pollution and their commitment to climate action, and we look forward to continuing to work together to ensure all our communities have access to clean air and a safe climate.”

Other global climate summit announcements

Additionally, global leaders issued other policies to address inequities and injustices linked to climate change. Other major announcements made at the climate conference included creation of an historic “loss and damage” fund. Through this fund, developed nations and parties responsible for most climate-changing emissions can contribute to the costs of impacts on poorer developing nations. 

Lastly, the Biden-Harris Administration also renewed its pledge to continue supplementing the Green Climate Fund as part of the American contribution to these assistance efforts.