Sister Joan Brown: We Must Work for Stronger Methane Rules

/in , , , /by

“People of faith see climate change as the greatest ethical and moral concern of our time. Not only do frontline communities, communities of color, the young and old suffer the most from climate change, they are affected most from methane pollution which is linked to our warming climate. We must work for strong methane rules. We must act now for life.”   –Sister Joan Brown

 Here is the press release that carried Sister Joan Brown’s comments

EPA New Methane Safeguards Protect Our Common Home

(Oakland, CA – Nov. 2, 2021) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first national limits on methane emissions from existing oil and gas operations. At the same time President Biden announced a global pledge to slash the climate-warming methane.

Methane pollution is a profound threat to our health and our climate. The oil and gas industry is the largest source of methane pollution in the United States. Addressing this pollution, in the form of leaks from new and existing operations, is the low hanging fruit of climate solutions. 

Sister Joan Brown, osf, Executive Director, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, said: “People of faith see climate change as the greatest ethical and moral concern of our time. Not only do frontline communities, communities of color, the young and old suffer the most from climate change, they are affected most from methane pollution which is linked to our warming climate. We must work for strong methane rules. We must act now for life.” 

Bill Bradlee, National Organizing Director of Interfaith Power & Light said, “People of faith and conscience, with a shared commitment for stewardship of our common home, support strong and effective methane pollution safeguards. Using currently available technology, the U.S. can do its part to meet a global imperative, achieving a 65% reduction of methane from oil and gas by 2025 and more by the end of the decade.  As the largest historic emitter of climate warming pollution, the U.S. must do its fair share and dramatically reduce its methane pollution.”

Interfaith Power & Light urges the EPA to finalize these strong methane safeguards without delay. IPL supports some additional improvements; for example, it must address methane emissions reductions in smaller wells and issues of routine flaring. These must be included before the proposal is finalized to ensure EPA is fully protecting our health and addressing the climate crisis.