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What is Fracking? What is Methane?

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of drilling natural gas from shale formations. This technology is being used across the US and has contributed to a dramatic increase in the use of natural gas for electricity in recent decades. Natural gas is mostly methane. Methane is a flammable gas, carried through a network of pipelines and burned for energy and cooking.

Methane is an aggressive climate pollutant, with 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the short term.

Fracking, strictly speaking, describes breaking into shale formations—though we often use the term as shorthand for the entire process. Methane leaks are a problem through every single step of oil and gas development, from the moment the drill bit goes into the ground until the gas is delivered to your house. Methane is accidentally or purposely leaked and vented at many stages of natural gas extraction, transportation, and use, representing a major source of dangerous climate pollution in the US.

Other significant sources of methane emissions include cattle and landfills.

What can methane and fracking pollution do to you?

Although not harmful in and of itself, the release of methane into the atmosphere is polluting our climate and is creating a grave global public health threat. Reducing methane emissions is essential to fighting climate change—and safeguarding the health and future of our children.

Methane occurs in geologic formations right alongside other toxic volatile organic compounds, such as benzene and formaldehyde, which means that wherever methane is leaking or vented, you may be breathing potentially harmful air pollution. These pollutants can cause cancer and other health problems, as well as combine with heat and sunlight to form ground-level ozone, or smog, which is harmful to breathe.

Why moms are fighting methane emissions from fracking.

Fighting methane emissions from fracking is one of our most urgent campaigns. Methane emissions are a major source of harmful climate pollution, and the pollutants that accompany leaking methane pose major health risks.

We have national standards in place to begin to address the urgent problem of methane pollution from fracking (the Methane New Source Performance Standards). But the Trump administration is trying to make it easier for the oil and gas industry to spew climate-harming methane into the air. Moms are aggressively fighting this effort through testifying at hearings, submitting comments to the public docket, meeting with our lawmakers, and speaking to the media about the grave threats of methane pollution.

Moms Clean Air Force also supports state-based efforts to limit harmful methane pollution. If you live in a state where there is fracking, you can demand that your elected officials show leadership in reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Several states have started implementing mechanisms to reduce oil and gas pollution, including California, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wyoming. However, it is imperative that all states do much more to cut methane emissions.

Learn more about how methane pollution from fracking contributes to climate change and degrades our air quality by exploring our resources.

Support state and national efforts to limit methane pollution from the oil and gas industry.

The science is clear. We must act with urgency.

Moms Clean Air Force demands that city, state, and federal lawmakers and regulators move us onto a path to climate safety immediately.

  • We must mobilize immediately for a transition to zero climate pollution. The 100% Clean Economy bill is a great start.
  • We must have laws and regulations that rapidly draw down carbon and methane emissions and ramp up energy efficiency everywhere.
  • Our goals must be ambitious, and staged deadlines must be strictly enforced to demonstrate measurable progress.
  • We must ensure that vulnerable populations and communities of color are given equitable protections and are granted access to cost-effective clean-energy options.
  • We must make bold investments in innovative technologies that will help solve this climate crisis.
  • We must hold companies accountable for cleaning up their climate pollution.

Tell Your Representatives:
It’s Beyond Time for Climate Safety

Resources about Fracking/Methane

  • Resources
  • Articles
  • Take Action
Methane Pollution: What Health Experts Say About Climate Change & Public Health

Video

Methane Pollution: What Health Experts Say About Climate Change & Public Health

Pennsylvania State Rep. Innamorato | Stay-In for Climate Action!

Video

Pennsylvania State Rep. Innamorato | Stay-In for Climate Action!

Protect Pennsylvania Families from Oil & Gas Pollution

Video

Protect Pennsylvania Families from Oil & Gas Pollution

Protect Pennsylvania Families from Climate Pollution

Video

Protect Pennsylvania Families from Climate Pollution

Ethane Cracker Plants

Fact Sheet

Ethane Cracker Plants

PBS EcoSense for Living: Do We Still Need the Clean Air Act?

Video

PBS EcoSense for Living: Do We Still Need the Clean Air Act?

Q & A: What You Need to Know About Natural Gas

Fact Sheet

Q & A: What You Need to Know About Natural Gas

Methane Leaks

Fact Sheet

Methane Leaks

How Oil and Gas Operations Impact Your Baby's Health

Fact Sheet

How Oil and Gas Operations Impact Your Baby's Health

Cómo las operaciones del petróleo y del gas afectan la salud de su bebé

Fact Sheet

Cómo las operaciones del petróleo y del gas afectan la salud de su bebé

How Oil and Gas Affect School Age Children

Fact Sheet

How Oil and Gas Affect School Age Children

Methane and Latinos

Fact Sheet

Methane and Latinos

See more resources about Fracking/Methane »

Why Biden’s Climate Team Inspires Us, and Our Clean Air Act at 50: Moms Make News: December 10-22, 2020

Article

Why Biden’s Climate Team Inspires Us, and Our Clean Air Act at 50: Moms Make News: December 10-22, 2020

Analysis of Fracking Finds Grave Health, Environmental Justice and Climate Impacts

Article

Analysis of Fracking Finds Grave Health, Environmental Justice and Climate Impacts

Pennsylvania Parents Support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Article

Pennsylvania Parents Support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

Article

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Article

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Oil, Gas and Climate Pollution Harms Pennsylvania's Children

Article

Oil, Gas and Climate Pollution Harms Pennsylvania's Children

The Trump Administration's Rollback of Methane Safeguards Harms Public Health

Article

The Trump Administration's Rollback of Methane Safeguards Harms Public Health

Mom Testifies to Protect Pennsylvania Families From Fracking

Article

Mom Testifies to Protect Pennsylvania Families From Fracking

Watch "Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air"

Article

Watch "Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air"

Moms Make News: June 4 – June 26, 2020

Article

Moms Make News: June 4 – June 26, 2020

Moms Make News: May 21 - June 4, 2020

Article

Moms Make News: May 21 - June 4, 2020

Moms Clean Air Force Goes Virtual: How We Fight for Clean Air During a Pandemic

Article

Moms Clean Air Force Goes Virtual: How We Fight for Clean Air During a Pandemic

Read more articles about Fracking/Methane »

Tell the Senate: End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks and Subsidies

Petition

Tell the Senate: End Fossil Fuel Tax Breaks and Subsidies

Tell Your Governor: Take the Lead on Climate Action

Petition

Tell Your Governor: Take the Lead on Climate Action

Clean Air Action Guide

Action Guide

Clean Air Action Guide

Why Biden’s Climate Team Inspires Us, and Our Clean Air Act at 50: Moms Make News: December 10-22, 2020

Article

Why Biden’s Climate Team Inspires Us, and Our Clean Air Act at 50: Moms Make News: December 10-22, 2020

Analysis of Fracking Finds Grave Health, Environmental Justice and Climate Impacts

Article

Analysis of Fracking Finds Grave Health, Environmental Justice and Climate Impacts

Pennsylvania Parents Support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Article

Pennsylvania Parents Support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

Article

Air Pollution is Invisible. Watch It Turn Visible.

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Article

U.S. Air Quality Monitors Routinely Miss Pollution

Methane Pollution: What Health Experts Say About Climate Change & Public Health

Video

Methane Pollution: What Health Experts Say About Climate Change & Public Health

Oil, Gas and Climate Pollution Harms Pennsylvania's Children

Article

Oil, Gas and Climate Pollution Harms Pennsylvania's Children

The Trump Administration's Rollback of Methane Safeguards Harms Public Health

Article

The Trump Administration's Rollback of Methane Safeguards Harms Public Health

Pennsylvania State Rep. Innamorato | Stay-In for Climate Action!

Video

Pennsylvania State Rep. Innamorato | Stay-In for Climate Action!

Mom Testifies to Protect Pennsylvania Families From Fracking

Article

Mom Testifies to Protect Pennsylvania Families From Fracking

Protect Pennsylvania Families from Oil & Gas Pollution

Video

Protect Pennsylvania Families from Oil & Gas Pollution

Watch "Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air"

Article

Watch "Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air"

See more Fracking/Methane resources »

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Moms Clean Air Force

We are a community of moms and dads united against air pollution – including the urgent crisis of our changing climate – to protect our children’s health.

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