Washington, DC – Today the Obama Administration announced the newest piece of its comprehensive Climate Action Plan: an interagency strategy to reduce methane emissions, which contribute to climate change and smog. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), chairman of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, issued the following statement today applauding the strategy:
“As climate change continues to harm American communities from the Heartland to the coasts, we must use every tool at our disposal to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing it. The new interagency methane reduction strategy announced today targets an extremely potent greenhouse gas and contributor to smog, and is an important addition to the Administration’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change and to improve air quality. I applaud the President for his ongoing commitment to public health and the environment.”
Today’s announcement comes shortly after an EPW Committee hearing on Wednesday in which Senator Whitehouse asked Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy for an update on federal efforts to address methane pollution. She responded that, “The President’s Climate Action Plan indicated that the Administration would be putting out a methane strategy. You will be seeing that shortly.” Video of their exchange is available here (skip to 1:14:20 mark).
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