Op-ed: Could Stopping Methane Leaks Help Avoid the Worst of the Climate Crisis?

[Editor’s note: Opinions expressed by the author are their own.]

From accelerating glacier melts in Alaska to wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico, the effects of climate change are touching every state across the country. While the impacts of global warming are becoming increasingly obvious, we have the technology, means and ability to take action on a primary warming culprit: methane.

It’s not as well-known as CO₂ and not as virtue-signaling friendly as metal straws, but it is the best step we can take. Right now. Eliminating fugitive methane emissions—especially from oil and gas operations—can buy us more time to develop additional low-carbon and net-zero solutions.

We have to act. Now. The urgency is only increasing. Regulation will not be the salve we were hoping for as the Supreme Court’s decision significantly limits the EPA’s powers to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our lifetime.

We must now look to markets and consumers to solve this problem.