Change the Chamber Warns: EPA’s Methane Delay Endangers Our Future
By Erika Pietrzak, Marie DeLessio, and Evey Mengelkoch, December 8, 2025
The EPA’s delay of vital methane rules gives polluters a pass while communities face escalating heat, dirtier air, and mounting health risks. Choosing industry shortcuts over public safety threatens our climate, our economy, and the future young people are fighting to protect. (Full statement below.)
Change the Chamber is deeply disappointed in the EPA’s finalization of its delay of crucial methane emission regulations. With this decision, the climate, our health, and our futures are in grave danger. This delay prioritizes polluters at the expense of the public, worsening already intense extreme heat and placing Americans at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and more. Without proper regulation, companies are allowed to cut corners to save short-term profits while the surrounding communities bear the burden of such decisions. The EPA chose to frame this delay as a way to ensure development and manufacturing could continue and that the U.S. could achieve energy dominance. In reality, the EPA is choosing to allow big oil to continue emitting one of the most potent Earth-warming gases with no control or monitoring. This delay not only abandons promises previously made by our government, but it also reverses our progress in terms of energy diversity, climate resilience, and corporate accountability.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, changing our climate significantly more than carbon dioxide per molecule released. This leads to extreme weather events jeopardizing a plethora of people across the country, higher food and energy costs, and worsening water insecurity. In addition to methane’s impacts on our climate, the oil and gas operations that would be affected by this rule continue to release toxic pollutants into our air and water, harming the communities around them each month this rule is delayed. While a delay of this rule may seem like a boon to oil and gas companies, it also makes them less competitive internationally, as many countries also recognize the harms of unabated methane pollution and consumers are demanding cleaner energy. Additionally, many states and companies have been adapting to this rule already, with states enacting their own similar regulations and companies investing in solutions to reduce their harms. This rule delay undercuts those who are being proactive in protecting our communities to reward the worst polluters who choose to continue emitting harmful compounds such as methane, benzene, and other VOCs.
Change the Chamber recognizes the harm that delaying crucial regulations, such as the methane rule, places on our communities, economy, and future. As a coalition of young adults, we will continue fighting for a future that benefits all of us and advocating for cleaner air, water, and a more stable climate for all to enjoy.
The National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber
Change the Chamber is a nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups across the country, environmental justice and frontline community groups, and other allied organizations. To support our work, donate or join our efforts!