The Trump administration moves to delay the implementation of the EPA’s 2024 methane standards, threatening public health and climate progress.
WASHINGTON — Today, the Trump administration’s EPA finalized its decision to delay implementation of the 2024 methane pollution standards through Section 111 Compliance Deadline Extension. A move that jeopardizes public health and climate progress nationwide. The delay stalls commonsense protections that could have prevented 58 million tons of methane emissions and curbed the release of toxic air pollutants like cancer-causing benzene and smog-forming compounds linked to asthma and other respiratory issues.
The 2024 methane standards were designed to limit pollution from new and existing oil and gas operations, one of the largest sources of climate-warming methane in the U.S. Methane is a super-pollutant that accelerates the climate crisis and contributes to the extreme heat, wildfires, and deadly storms already devastating communities nationwide. Timely enforcement of these rules is critical not only for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality, but also for protecting frontline communities living through the compounding impacts of pollution and climate-driven disasters.
Despite widespread support from states, industry, and the public, this action prioritizes polluters over people, particularly Latine and frontline communities already living with the daily impacts of oil and gas pollution.
In response, GreenLatinos Irene Burga, Climate Justice and Clean Air Director, GreenLatinos:
“Delaying implementation of the EPA’s methane protections is a direct assault on the health of Latino communities and other frontline populations who are already overburdened by oil and gas pollution. The science is clear and the stakes are high — every day of delay means more cancer-causing benzene in our air, more asthma attacks in our children, and more methane fueling the climate crisis. Communities like mine in Southern California can’t afford another year of inaction. This move by Administrator Zeldin is not only unjustified — it’s dangerous”
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About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
