In this edition:
- Alan Krupnick on EPA’s new methane emissions regulations
- Phil Sharp on combining economic growth and environmental regulation in China
- RFF seminar on how scientists are preparing for climate change’s agricultural impacts
Regulating Methane Emissions
A new EPA proposal released last week aims to reduce methane emissions by 45 percent over the next 10 years. The proposed rules will target methane emissions from the oil and gas sector across the United States, which currently produces more natural gas than any other country.
In a recent blog post, RFF’s Alan Krupnick writes that EPA has taken “very important steps” in its commitment to exploring methane measurement and monitoring technologies. Krupnick writes: “What will remain unclear for some time is whether further reductions beyond the cheap stuff are really necessary to meet emissions reduction goals for this sector.”
China’s Pollution Problem
Last week, air pollution in China once again reached dangerous levels as particulates soared to 568 micrograms per cubic meter—“20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization.” The Chinese government responded by pledging to “ban the construction of new oil-refining, steel, cement, and thermal power plants” to reduce industrial smog.
“If laissez-faire environmentalism aided China’s incredible growth … the lack of strong constraints now undermines that growth,” says RFF President Phil Sharp in a new Resources article. He explains that the United States represents a viable example of how attention to the environment—which has become a “major American asset”—can also work to foster industrial and economic growth.
Climate Impacts on Agriculture
A massive seed bank is currently being constructed as an “insurance policy” against climate change, which the bank’s creators say will be the “biggest challenge farming has ever faced.” At an upcoming RFF seminar, RFF Fellow Yusuke Kuwayama will ask a panel of experts to consider how climate change will affect agricultural productivity and global food supplies, as well as the households that depend on them for income. Register now to attend “How Will Climate Change Affect Our Global Food Supply?”
