US oil production hits all-time high, hindering efforts to combat greenhouse gases
Associated Press writer Seth Borenstein reports that United States domestic oil production has hit an all-time high, conflicting with U.S. and international actions to reduce carbon emissions.
In a nutshell:
In the first week of October, U.S. domestic oil production reached an unprecedented high of 13.2 million barrels per day, surpassing the previous record set in 2020. This surge in production contradicts work by the Biden administration and global leaders to reduce carbon emissions. While it contradicts Republican claims of a "war on American energy," the U.S. is not alone in this trend: Countries like Norway, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada also increasing fossil fuel production.
Key quote:
“Continuing to expand oil and gas production is hypocritical and not at all consistent with the global call to phase down fossil fuels,” said climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics which helps track global actions and policies to curb climate change. “The U.S. support for expanded fossil fuel production will undermine global efforts to reduce emissions.”
The big picture:
Increased drilling and production can lead to air and water pollution, resulting in respiratory issues and other health problems for nearby communities. The extraction process can disrupt ecosystems and harm biodiversity, indirectly impacting human well-being. The release of greenhouse gases from oil and gas activities exacerbates climate change, which in turn has far-reaching health consequences, including heat-related illnesses, extreme weather events and the spread of infectious diseases.
Read the full story at the Associated Press.
Earlier this year, Ruth Greenspan Bell wrote for EHN that the Biden administration's decision to allow Arctic oil drilling at the same time it pursues the most climate-friendly agenda of any American president was met with outrage. How can this conflict in priorities be explained?
