Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would delay implementing stronger safeguards on methane pollution that were previously passed under the Biden Administration. The agency is now allowing states an extra 10 months to submit plans to reduce methane emissions and is pushing back by 18 months a key feature of the 2024 rule that would allow independent third parties to detect and report the worst polluters—so-called “super emitters.”
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is 86 times stronger than CO2 at trapping heat over a 20-year timeframe. In addition to significantly increasing the rate of our climate’s warming, methane emissions are coupled with the release of toxic air pollutants like cancer-causing benzene and particulate matter linked to asthma and other respiratory issues. The EPA’s announcement therefore risks the health, safety, and future of our children, families, and communities.
In response to the delay, EEN President & CEO Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman released the following statement:
“As evangelicals, we believe that all human life is sacred and worthy of protection—from the unborn to the elderly, including energy workers on the frontlines and the 17 million Americans who live, work, or go to school near oil and gas facilities. These individuals are regularly exposed to hazardous and cancer-causing pollutants from leaking oil and gas infrastructure. These are not distant problems—they’re happening now in our communities, to our families, right here at home.
“Health-harming leaks are preventable. That’s why 100,000 pro-life Christians supported the diligent monitoring and the commonsense standards outlined in the EPA’s Clean Air Act methane pollution rule finalized in 2023.
“The EPA’s recent decision to delay vital methane pollution safeguards is a step in the wrong direction. These commonsense protections were designed to stop harmful leaks that threaten the health of our families and cost our economy in lost energy and productivity. Delaying implementation not only endangers public health—it undermines the kind of responsible leadership Americans expect.
“According to its own accounting, the EPA admits that these delays will allow 3.8 million tons of methane pollution, 960,000 tons of volatile organic compounds, and 36,000 tons of other toxic air pollutants into the air that would have been avoided. This means more toxic leaks, more asthma attacks, and more cancer risks in our own backyards.
“Let’s be clear: cutting methane pollution is cost-effective and readily doable. With available technology and basic accountability, we can fix the leaks, protect our kids, and conserve American energy. Instead, this delay allows the worst actors to keep polluting with no consequences; and it’s our families, our kids with asthma, and our loved ones who pay the price.
"Like President Trump, we believe America should have the cleanest air, crystal-clear water, and the healthiest people. We cannot achieve this by postponing protections that keep dangerous pollution out of our lungs and off our playgrounds. Protecting our communities from toxic air is not partisan—it’s pro-life, and it’s the right thing to do.
"We urge the EPA to swiftly implement methane pollution protections instead of dragging its feet. Our children’s health cannot–and should not–wait."
