Women’s Faith Group Condemns Rollback of EPA Rules on Pollution

NEW YORK

The largest denominational women’s organization, United Methodist Women, today sharply questioned proposals to roll back EPA’s methane rules, the first line of defense in keeping communities healthy and safe. In challenging the decision to ease methane regulations, the organization noted the adverse health impact of pollution:

“Prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema, damage to the nervous system, and damage to key organs,” said Elizabeth Lee, an executive for economic and environmental justice. “From years of research, we know that there is a direct connection between methane and air pollution. Eliminating the safeguards that ensure our loved ones can breathe clean air is counterproductive, if not deadly.”

“Proposals to roll back EPA methane rules weakens federal oversight and enables many of the nation’s hundreds of thousands of oil and gas facilities to continue emitting toxins that harm our children, our families, and our communities,” said Harriett Jane Olson, general secretary and CEO of United Methodist Women. “The EPA’s methane rules are common-sense protections that limit environmental toxins and preserve our health. Since the oil and gas industry is one of the leading contributors to air pollution, it is mind-boggling that the government is proposing less oversight and less accountability. Ensuring strong federal standards is not only the right thing to do, it is the only thing to do.”

The EPA action comes as major companies in the oil and gas industry, such as Chevron and Exxon Mobile, voice support for doing more to stop pollution. United Methodist Women argues that vocal support must be accompanied by action.

“Chevron recently committed to addressing methane pollution, yet they are standing by as the administration works to eliminate critical safeguards. Chevron’s failure to oppose EPA’s efforts to gut methane pollution standards undermines their commitments to address climate change and support the Paris Agreements,” Lee said.

“Each of us has a role to play in protecting our communities, safeguarding the environment, and being good stewards over all that has been entrusted to us,” Olson said.

Persons interested in taking immediate action to protect the environment should consider the upcoming student strike, Sept. 20 through Sept. 27. Visit the Climate Strike page for more information. 

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Contact: Yvette Moore, ymoore@unitedmethodistwomen.org