Keep it in the Ground bill could curb 450 billion tons of carbon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate climate leaders Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) today introduced the Keep it in the Ground Act of 2015. The bill would prohibit the issuance of new leases or renewal of non-producing leases for coal, oil and natural gas on all federal lands and waters. Unleased fossil fuels on federal lands and waters account for 450 billion tons of potential carbon emissions.

Friends of the Earth Climate Campaigner Marissa Knodel issued the following response:

This bill is one of the most significant pieces of climate legislation in U.S. history. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground on federal lands and waters to avoid the worst impacts of climate disruption and safeguard our natural heritage. The group of senators sponsoring this bill are demonstrating true climate leadership when we need it most. The Keep it in the Ground Act of 2015 sets the bar for what the U.S. can and should achieve in the global fight to prevent climate catastrophe. 

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Expert contact: Marissa Knodel, (763) 355-4763, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]