Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-519-8449
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As multiple extreme weather events converge across the country and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Trump administration is planning to auction off more than half a million acres of public lands for oil and gas drilling.
In response Dan Ritzman, director of Sierra Club’s Lands, Water and Wildlife Campaign issued the following statement.
“There is no reason to expand oil and gas drilling right now, but every reason not to. We’re seeing the climate crisis in real time, with more frequent and severe fires, hurricanes, heatwaves, flooding and a pandemic. With low demand and a glut of oil, the government might get pennies on the dollar for opening up public lands to drilling and mining. The price our communities pay for the burning of fossil fuels and the loss of outdoor space will be much higher. We urgently need to be protecting more nature to protect people, wildlife and our climate.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.