GOP-led states urge Supreme Court to pause EPA plan to cut methane emissions by 80%

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🗞️ Driving the news: Republican officials from 24 states, led by Oklahoma, have requested that the Supreme Court halt a Biden administration plan to reduce methane emissions by nearly 80% by 2038
• The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule, which took effect earlier this year, is part of broader efforts to combat climate change
• This latest appeal adds to ongoing challenges against Biden’s environmental regulations

🔭 The context: The appeals court in Washington, DC, previously denied the states' request to pause the methane regulations
• Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is significantly more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide
• Republican-led states argue the EPA's requirement for state-level compliance within two years is unrealistic and places undue pressure on the oil and gas industry

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Methane emissions significantly contribute to global warming, making their reduction critical for climate change mitigation
• The EPA’s plan aligns with broader goals to lower fossil fuel emissions and promote cleaner air quality
Pausing the rule could hinder efforts to address climate change impacts effectively

⏭️ What's next: The Supreme Court's conservative majority will likely take several weeks to decide on this emergency request
• The outcome could influence other ongoing and future challenges to Biden’s environmental policies, potentially shaping the regulatory landscape for the oil and gas sector

💬 One quote: “The EPA’s attack on the oil and gas industry comes as no surprise,” the states argued in their filing to the Supreme Court

📈 One stat:  Methane emissions from the oil and gas industry accounted for approximately 30% of all U.S. methane emissions in 2021, making it one of the largest sources of methane pollution in the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency

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