Randi Spivak, public lands director at the Center for Biological Diversity, was similarly critical, according to Reuters. "But President Biden promised to end the leasing program entirely due to its deadly threat to the climate," Rees said. "Secretary Haaland and President Biden must end all federal leasing and permits for oil and gas extraction," he added. "The Interior Department's report makes it abundantly clear that under the current oil and gas leasing program, taxpayers and the environment are losing out while Big Oil profits handsomely," he said. "If Congress is serious about combating climate change and protecting our nation's cherished public lands," Herrig added, "senators must ensure bold reforms to the nation's public lands leasing program are included in the Build Back Better Act."

Source: New York Times November 28, 2021 15:05 UTC