API outlines path for low-carbon future in new climate-action framework

(The following statement is from the American Petroleum Institute’s president and CEO, Mike Sommers.) “Confronting the challenge of climate-change—and building a lower-carbon future—will require a combination of policies, industry-initiatives, and continuous innovation: America has made significant progress in reducing emissions to generational lows. But, there’s more work to do. “The natural-gas- and oil-industry is pledging to act on climate, in five critical ways—[in order] to build on the progress [that] the U-S has made in driving down emissions, while still meeting the world’s long-term energy-needs. “We commit to accelerate technology and innovation—such as carbon-capture, -utilization, and -storage, and new hydrogen-technologies. Our industry will also further mitigate emissions from operations—through the direct regulation of methane, and industry-led initiatives to reduce flaring. “Additionally, we will now advocate for a carbon-price policy—to drive market-based climate-solutions. We’ll advance cleaner fuels—like U-S natural-gas—to continue reducing emissions, and provide lower-carbon electricity. And finally, we will drive transparent and consistent climate-reporting—throughout the natural-gas- and oil-industry. “Our industry is committed to using our knowledge, expertise, and other factors, to tackle climate-change—[in order] to protect our environment, while providing affordable, reliable, [and] cleaner energy, for generations to come.” (More information is at https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/news/2021/03/24/climate-action-framework.)