US to look at climate emissions from oil and gas lease sales
ABC News
The Biden administration says petroleum industry regulators for the first time will analyze greenhouse gas emissions from federal oil and gas lease sales on a national scale
BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Biden administration announced Friday that industry regulators for the first time have begun analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from federal oil and gas leases on a national scale, as they prepare to hold sales in numerous Western states next year amid a fierce debate over federal fossil fuel reserves.
The announcement from the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management came as officials released a report saying oil, gas and coal extraction from federal lands produced more than 1 billion tons (918 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases last year. That's about one-fifth of all U.S. energy-related emissions.
President Joe Biden campaigned on promises to end new drilling on public lands to help combat climate change. But his attempt to suspend new leases while oil and gas sales underwent a sweeping review was blocked by a federal judge in Louisiana.
Including greenhouse gas emissions in lease sale reviews lets the administration highlight what scientists say are the increasing “social costs” of climate change — from rising sea levels and wildfires, to public health problems.
