The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a new Cabinet-level task force to accelerate the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Plan, promoting public health protection and reducing climate impacts.
Methane contributes to an estimated one-third of the planet’s warming patterns, according to The White House fact sheet. It is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide and can lead to health concerns such as asthma and cancer.
The White House said that 30% of methane emissions in the United States accrue from the oil and gas industry.
At the first Methane Summit in Washington, D.C., the task force, consisting of local, tribal and federal representatives, will discuss issues surrounding the release of methane and how to mitigate it.
Through a national and international coalition of 150 countries, the task force strives to protect public health and improve climate advocacy. The fact sheet said they intend to adopt new technologies to detect and monitor methane emissions, leak detection and repair efforts.
“We applaud President (Joe) Biden’s announcement of the new cabinet-level Methane Task Force,” Gwen Lachelt, executive director of the pro-conservation group Western Leaders Network, said in a statement.“ We need an Apollo-like mission to cut methane at the national and global level.”
In 2022, satellites showed more than 500 super-emission events that came from oil and gas operations, according to the International Energy Agency Global Methane Tracker. The task force will now be able to hold those involved even more accountable and drastically cut methane production.
Additionally, The White House said the drive to eliminate methane emissions could create nearly 10,000 well-paying jobs that consist of manufacturing, construction, operations and maintenance while protecting the public’s health.
