Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York was called out during a hearing on Wednesday for pushing false information about greenhouse gas emissions. The hearing, held by the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, aimed to address the issue of climate change and proposed solutions such as Ocasio-Cortez’s “Green New Deal.”
In her opening statement, Ocasio-Cortez claimed that oil and gas production on federal land was responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. However, Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, quickly corrected her, stating that this is a “complete falsehood.”
Sgamma pointed out that Ocasio-Cortez’s claim was based on a misinterpretation of a United States Geological Survey (USGS) study. According to the study, oil and gas production accounted for 23.7% of carbon dioxide emissions over a 10-year period, but a much smaller percentage of methane and nitrogen emissions. In fact, Sgamma noted that production on federal lands and waters only accounts for 0.6% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Furthermore, Sgamma urged the subcommittee to conduct further oversight of the Interior Department’s actions in blocking the development of oil and natural gas resources. She suggested that there may be inappropriate collusion between the department and environmental and activist groups, and urged for more transparency in the decision-making processes.
Sgamma’s statements received support from others in the hearing, with Republican ranking member Rob Bishop referencing the USGS study to refute Ocasio-Cortez’s claims. Bishop also criticized the “Green New Deal” and its proposed solutions for climate change.
Alliance Pres. Kathleen Sgamma today corrected @AOC over #climate disinformation she repeatedly uses…
“She claimed that oil and gas production on federal lands is responsible for about a 1/4 of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s a complete falsehood.
“That’s based on a… pic.twitter.com/FgqkinHjWO
— Western Energy Alliance (@WesternEnergy1) September 19, 2023
This hearing highlights the ongoing debate over the role of oil and gas production in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and its impact on climate change. As Ocasio-Cortez and others continue to advocate for stricter regulations on these industries, it is important to ensure that the information used to support these arguments is accurate and based on sound scientific research.
The hearing also underscores the need for better communication and cooperation between federal agencies and industry groups to address climate change. Sgamma’s call for more transparency and oversight of the Interior Department’s actions is a crucial step in ensuring that decisions are made in a fair and unbiased manner, with the interests of both the environment and the economy in mind.
In the end, the hearing served as a reminder that while the issue of climate change is complex and urgent, it is important to have open and honest discussions based on reliable information. False claims and misinformation only serve to hinder progress in finding effective and sustainable solutions for the future of our planet.
