The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a significant delay in requirements for the oil and gas industry to curb its methane emissions. This critical measure, originally set to begin this year under the previous administration, has been pushed back until January 2027 by the current Trump administration, which is even considering repealing the rule entirely. This move deals a severe blow to any remaining efforts by the United States to slow Earth’s dangerous warming, coming shortly after the administration boycotted the United Nations climate summit, a first for the U.S. in three decades, as reported by The New York Times.

This situation matters immensely because methane is a potent “super pollutant.” While it breaks down faster than carbon dioxide, it traps about 80 times as much heat in the atmosphere in the short term. This makes it responsible for nearly a third of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. Delaying these cuts means more of this powerful gas will continue to escape, accelerating the urgent climate crisis at a time when rapid action is desperately needed.

The EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, stated that this delay would save oil and gas companies an estimated $750 million over 11 years in compliance costs. However, critics argue this financial saving comes at a steep environmental cost. Furthermore, the Trump administration is simultaneously working to undo the government’s legal authority to limit other greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle tailpipes and power plants, signaling a broader rollback of climate protections that could have long-lasting, detrimental effects on our planet’s future.