U.S.-Canada Pact a Step toward a Future Safe from Climate Change – EDF President Fred Krupp

“Today’s announcement of a joint climate strategy between the U.S. and Canada moves the world a step closer to a future safe from climate change. 

“The historic agreement addresses one of the most serious aspects of our climate crisis – methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of today’s warming, and the U.S. and Canada are the second and fourth largest emitters of oil and gas methane respectively. Today, Canada is pledging to reduce its oil and gas methane pollution by 40 to 45 percent over the next decade, matching an earlier U.S. commitment, and regulating new and existing oil and facilities. At the same time, the U.S. is committing for the first time to rapidly addressing methane emissions from existing oil-and gas facilities. Together, the new commitments demonstrate that these leaders recognize the urgent need for action to limit methane pollution. The issue is generating the global momentum it deserves. That means we can make enormous strides toward reducing levels of this potent greenhouse gas, helping to protect our planet and its people. I would like to thank President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau for their leadership in tackling this critical problem.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates continued international cooperation and determination to address climate change. The U.S. and China announced a breakthrough climate agreement in November, 2014. Last year,195 countries approved an historic climate agreement in Paris. The U.S. finalized the Clean Power Plan to put the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants. And China committed to a national cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions beginning next year. Around the world, citizen and their leaders are calling for cleaner energy, healthier air, and more steps to protect us all from the dangers of climate change. Today’s U.S.-Canada agreement is another welcome example of that international momentum.

“In the U.S., EPA will soon finalize the first national scale limits on methane pollution from new oil and gas sources. Today’s commitment to limit methane emissions from existing oil and gas sources goes much further, addressing the single largest industrial source of methane in the U.S. Cost-effective solutions are readily available, and are already being deployed in some states. I look forward to the day when national limits on methane from existing oil and gas sources are fully implemented. That will be the ultimate measure of progress.”

- Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund