TWS Deputy VP of Energy & Climate statement on federal oil and gas leasing pause

Today, President Biden is anticipated to sign an Executive Order that takes initial steps to transition public lands to be part of the solution to the climate crisis by pausing new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters.

The following statement is from Chase Huntley, Interim Deputy Vice President of Energy & Climate at The Wilderness Society:

“Biden’s order pausing fossil fuel leasing on federal public lands and waters is a step toward making these lands part of the solution to the climate crisis. At a time when we should be pumping the brakes on fossil fuel leasing and production – for the sake of combating climate change and the health of the communities who shoulder the greatest burdens of fossil fuel pollution and development – it makes sense to pause and fix the program now.

The current system is broken and nearly four decades overdue for a review. It gives handouts to oil and gas companies, prioritizes oil and gas drilling over conservation and recreation, and has entangled community welfare and state budgets for schools and social services with the fossil fuel industry’s profits. This pause on leasing affords the Biden administration an important opportunity to fix and align the current program with the administration’s climate goals while working with fossil-fuel reliant communities to ensure safeguards are in place to support economic transitions.

By taking bold action now to fix the leasing system, protect and connect forests and other landscapes that absorb climate-changing pollution, and ramp up responsible renewable energy development on public lands, all in ways that keep transitioning communities whole, the Biden administration can accelerate the urgent work of making public lands and waters a net-zero source of emissions by 2030 – a major step toward ultimately making them pollution-free.” 

For more information and to speak with policy and community experts at The Wilderness Society and in Western states about these issues, contact:

• Kerry Leslie, Communications Manager, The Wilderness Society, (575) 644-3097, kerry_leslie@tws.org

The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to unite people to protect America's wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 111 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. www.wilderness.org