Israel Blockade Leaves Gaza Without Aid, Biden Tackles Methane Emissions
As the Biden administration moves forward with its climate agenda, the effects of Israel's blockade on Gaza's population continue to worsen, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, humanitarian crises, and global cooperation.
The United Nations has run out of food aid in Gaza due to Israel's total blockade, leaving thousands of Palestinians without access to essential supplies, while the Biden administration has announced a new rule aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations on public and tribal lands.
The Biden administration's new rule requires oil and gas companies to monitor and reduce methane emissions from new and existing wells, pipelines, and other infrastructure. This move is part of the administration's efforts to combat climate change and meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is 28 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. The rule applies to oil and gas operations on federal and tribal lands, which account for about 30% of the country's oil and gas production. The administration estimates that the rule will reduce methane emissions by 75% over the next decade.
In contrast, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with the UN's food aid depletion exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Biden administration's efforts to reduce methane emissions highlight the need for global cooperation in addressing climate change and its far-reaching consequences, including the impact on vulnerable communities like those in Gaza.