Keep it in the Ground Act will help avert climate crisis and protect natural areas

Media Contacts
Rachel Richardson

Environment America

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and leading environmental advocates, introduced the Keep It in the Ground Act, major new legislation to help accelerate the transition to clean energy by ending all federal leases for oil, gas, or coal extraction on public lands and waters.

Environment America executive director Margie Alt praised the bill and issued this statement:

“We’re already experiencing dangerous consequences of climate change — from drought, to superstorms, to rising seas — and scientists are clear that to avoid even more catastrophic impacts, we must transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy. We simply can’t continue to drill, mine and burn more fossil fuels while global warming passes the point of no return. Sen. Merkley’s bill will protect our beaches, the fragile Arctic, and some of our most treasured natural areas — all while keeping dirty fuels in the ground where they belong.”