U.S. Unveils Plan to Curb Methane Emissions in Oil and Gas Industry

The Biden administration has announced final rules targeting methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas industry as part of a broader global effort to address climate change. Methane, with a higher warming potential than carbon dioxide, plays a significant role in climate change.
The rules, two years in the making, which were unveiled by U.S. officials at the United Nations COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, aim to reduce methane leaks from drill sites, gas pipelines, and other industry equipment.
The regulations ban routine flaring of natural gas from newly drilled oil wells, mandate monitoring for leaks, and establish a program to detect large methane releases from “super emitters.”
The rules are expected to prevent an estimated 58 million tons of methane emissions between 2024 and 2038. The initiative aligns with the 150-country pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
“These new standards will help us meet our international commitments to aggressively tackle climate change, while improving air quality for communities all across the country,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told a news conference in Dubai.
Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the methane regulations as part of broader U.S. initiatives against global warming, positioning the U.S. as a leader in climate action.
“Today, we are demonstrating through action how the world can and must meet this crisis,” Harris told the conference.
The rules received support from some environmental groups, emphasizing the importance of strong standards to curb climate pollution.