Methane: An Introduction to Emission Sources and Reduction Strategies in Bloomington, MN

On June 25, 2013, President Obama announced a national "Climate Action Plan" (CAP) to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), as well as to encourage adaptation to expected climate change. One of the more significant initiatives within the CAP focused on the control of methane emissions, a potent short-lived climate pollutant. It called for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Labor, and Transportation to develop a comprehensive interagency "Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions" (Strategy). The Strategy, released on March 28, 2014, commits to new steps to cut emissions through both voluntary actions and proposed rulemaking, and outlines the Administration's efforts to improve the measurement and assessment of these emissions.