{"id":14577,"date":"2020-08-26T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=14577"},"modified":"2020-08-27T14:55:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-27T18:55:59","slug":"pushing-forward-in-spite-of-methane-rollbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/pushing-forward-in-spite-of-methane-rollbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Pushing Forward in Spite of Methane Rollbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a big setback for US climate action, the federal government has rolled back requirements for capturing methane pollution. On Friday, August 14, the EPA finalized a rule that lets oil and gas companies off the hook for their methane emissions, replacing a 2016 rule that set limits on these emissions and required companies to monitor and repair leaking equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"By
By shifting our support to renewables like solar energy, we can keep polluting oil and gas companies on the hook in spite of rollbacks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Methane 101 <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Methane (or CH4) is the second most abundant greenhouse gas in our atmosphere. Alongside rampant carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, methane wraps around earth like a blanket \u2013 trapping heat inside of our atmosphere and causing our world to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"When
When we burn fossil fuels, like oil and gas, we release excess greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere \u2013 methane (CH4) included. The atmosphere wraps around Earth like a blanket (trapping heat inside it) and these excess greenhouse gasses make that blanket too thick, hurting plants, animals, and humans.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The sources most responsible for methane emissions are the production and transportation of natural gas, oil, and coal; in other words, the fossil fuels we burn for our energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But methane also comes from the decomposition of organic material in landfills and livestock farming (such as cattle farmed for beef). Because of the design of their stomach systems, livestock like cows emit methane during digestion. With just how many cows<\/a> we\u2019re farming for beef and dairy globally, about 1.4 billion, cattle (alongside other grazing livestock) account for 40% of the world\u2019s methane emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Cau<\/strong>se for Concern <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This recent rollback is especially concerning since methane is more than 80 times more potent<\/a> than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period \u2013 which means its warming impact is far more severe in a shorter period of time. To make matters worse, the regulation change comes at a time when research has found much more methane<\/a> is likely entering the atmosphere than we previously thought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Can Still Make a Difference <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While the rule is now official, having already gone through a public comment process, it is expected to be challenged in court. In the meantime, we can still have an impact on methane emissions by coming together and acting on climate to safeguard our future for people and wildlife alike. Whether you\u2019re a climate action novice or a seasoned pro, here are ways we can act in spite of this rollback.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 1: Increase Plant-based Meals and Start Composting<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Switching
Switching to plant-based meals helps reduce the demand for livestock farming, one of the sources of our global methane emissions. Photo \u00a9<\/em> Keith Weller, USDA. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A good way to start tackling methane emissions is to look at how we contribute to them. By switching to plant-based meals<\/a> and encouraging others to do the same, we\u2019re reducing the demand for livestock farming and lowering our personal carbon footprints. Through composting,<\/a> we shift decomposing, organic materials from landfills (where they release methane) to a compost pile (where the methane is absorbed). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s even more engaging to get your friends, families, and communities involved. For example, do some research to see if there\u2019s a local composting program in your neighborhood, like the City of Boston\u2019s Project Oscar<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u202fStage 2: Urge your Elected Officials to Support Clean Energy<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, the Massachusetts House passed the 2050 Roadmap bill<\/a>, which brings us closer to an equitable, clean energy future by 2050. Send your local, elected officials a message<\/a> thanking them for their support, but also urging them to continue their progress on clean energy policy that reduces our fossil fuel emissions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 3: Address the Source of our Energy <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The production and transport of fossil fuels is main source of global methane emissions. While the EPA has reversed regulations holding polluting companies accountable, as a collective we still have the power to keep them on the hook by choosing to shift our support towards renewable energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, you can make the switch<\/a> to green-powered energy, like solar or wind energy. If you\u2019ve already switched your household over, you can take your support for renewable energy one step further by ensuring your municipality has a Green Municipal Aggregation program. Visit the Green Energy Consumers Alliance’s website<\/a> to see if your municipality is already involved and how you can opt-in to this community effort.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a big setback for US climate action, the federal government has rolled back requirements for capturing methane pollution. On Friday, August 14, the EPA finalized a rule that lets oil and gas companies off the hook for their methane emissions, replacing a 2016 rule that set limits on these emissions and required companies to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":14585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,178],"tags":[246,150,361,360,86],"class_list":["post-14577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advocacy-2","category-climate","tag-climate-action","tag-climate-change","tag-greenhouse-gas","tag-methane","tag-policy"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/climategraphic-750x383-1.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3N7","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16241,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/learning-from-the-latest-climate-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":14577,"position":0},"title":"Learning from the Latest\u00a0Climate Report\u00a0","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"August 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth major report on the science of climate change. Condensing scientific evidence from 14,000 studies,\u00a0its\u00a0findings\u00a0paint\u00a0a stark\u00a0view of\u00a0our future.\u00a0\u00a0 Using\u00a0the strongest language ever used\u00a0by\u00a0IPCC\u00a0scientists,\u00a0the\u00a0report confirms with \u201cunequivocal\u201d certainty\u00a0for the first time\u00a0that human activity\u00a0continues to\u00a0contribute\u00a0to\u00a0climate\u00a0change.\u00a0 \u00a9 Declan Schweizer It also\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/6269Declan_Schweizer31975-750x500-a0a32b6b-8dfc-4104-9594-461424a27abc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/6269Declan_Schweizer31975-750x500-a0a32b6b-8dfc-4104-9594-461424a27abc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/6269Declan_Schweizer31975-750x500-a0a32b6b-8dfc-4104-9594-461424a27abc.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/08\/6269Declan_Schweizer31975-750x500-a0a32b6b-8dfc-4104-9594-461424a27abc.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13257,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/climate-change-its-in-what-you-eat\/","url_meta":{"origin":14577,"position":1},"title":"Climate Change: It\u2019s In What You Eat","author":"Alexandra Vecchio","date":"October 23, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The food we eat, where it comes from, and what we do with it when we are finished can have a significant impact on an individual\u2019s carbon footprint. 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But there\u2019s an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Compost Bucket via Elaine\/Flickr Creative Commons 2.0","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/elaine_flickr_compost_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/elaine_flickr_compost_750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/elaine_flickr_compost_750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/05\/elaine_flickr_compost_750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14409,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/heat-and-air-quality\/","url_meta":{"origin":14577,"position":4},"title":"There\u2019s more to Summertime than Heat","author":"Rishya N.","date":"July 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"You can\u2019t\u00a0miss\u00a0the telltale sign of summertime: that\u00a0classic\u00a0spike in\u00a0heat.\u00a0We\u2019re all\u00a0probably feeling a little\u00a0sweatier\u00a0than usual, but\u00a0the\u00a0heat is more than just uncomfortable.\u00a0 That\u2019s because temperature is directly linked to air quality\u00a0and our health\u00a0\u2013 and climate change\u00a0aggravates\u00a0that\u00a0link.\u00a0 The Basics of Air Pollution\u00a0 Ozone\u00a0is what we more commonly refer to as smog.\u00a0Particle matter\u00a0(PM) is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/pollution-4001554_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/pollution-4001554_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/pollution-4001554_1920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/07\/pollution-4001554_1920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11738,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-closer-look-at-new-climate-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":14577,"position":5},"title":"A Closer Look at New Climate Report","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"October 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A new\u00a0special report\u00a0from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is waving a red flag on the effects of climate change. 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