The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would roll back methane emissions rules and modify national performance standards for the oil and gas industry. A former Obama-era EPA official now based in Indiana says the consequences could significantly worsen the impact of climate change in the state.
“Methane is about 25 times more potent a global warming pollutant than carbon dioxide, so even if the amounts submitted are less, it can have an extremely significant effect,” said Janet McCabe, director of the Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University. “So, we’re in a situation where we’re already seeing the effects of climate change. In Indiana, we’re seeing warmer temperatures, we’re seeing stronger storms, we’re seeing more flooding. Every bit of greenhouse gas that goes into the atmosphere is a bit that will contribute to the continued development of these kinds of changes to our climate and the impact that that’s having on the economy.”
