Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today marks the end of a public comment period on the Biden Administration’s pause and review of the federal oil and gas leasing program. The comment period brought an outpouring of support for reforming and phasing out fossil fuel leasing on public lands and waters.
In response, Sierra Club Lands, Water, Wildlife Campaign Director Dan Ritzman issued the following statement.
“The oil and gas leasing pause provides an opportunity for honest evaluation of the costs of continued fossil fuel development on public lands. The economy is shifting. The climate is changing. Communities are suffering. Change is urgently needed.
“Public lands can, and must, be a part of the climate solution. Protecting more lands and waters, 30% by 2030 according to the science, can help reduce existing pollution, but we must also prevent new pollution by halting new fossil fuel leasing. Phasing out new leasing on public lands will make our communities healthier and safer, both now and in the long-run. And harnessing the potential of public lands to be part of a just recovery can ensure that nobody is left behind, that everyone-- particularly those most reliant on the fossil fuel industry, are supported as we move to a cleaner, healthier future together. We urge the Department of the Interior to heed the public’s call to end new dirty fuel leasing on public lands.”
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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.