The AMC applauds the agreement announced last week between President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reduce methane pollution from existing oil and gas operations. The oil and gas industry leaks more than 9 million metric tons of methane pollution each year – enough to power over 6.5 million homes for a year.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and near term reductions are essential to curbing climate change. Among other negative impacts, warmer temperatures are associated with unhealthy levels of ozone pollution. Ozone is particularly harmful to children and anyone exercising outside.
AMC’s Staff Scientist Georgia Murray said, “We look forward to the next steps this agreement envisions that will lead to reductions in methane and other toxic air pollutants from this sector.” The technology to make the fixes needed, including addressing leaky infrastructure, are affordable and ready to go, Murray said.
Read more >>