Numerous proposals have been made and could continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit emissions of GHGs. As a result, our operations as well as the operations of our oil and natural gas exploration and production customers, are subject to a series of regulatory, political, litigation, and financial risks associated with the production and processing of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs.
In the United States, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level, though laws such as the IRA advance numerous climate-related objectives. However, because the U.S. Supreme Court has held that GHG emissions constitute a pollutant under the CAA, the EPA has adopted rules that, among other things, establish construction and operating permit reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources, require the monitoring and annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources, implement New Source Performance Standards directing the reduction of methane from certain new, modified, or reconstructed facilities in the oil and natural gas sector, and together with the DOT, implement GHG emissions limits on vehicles manufactured for operation in the United States. Additionally, in August 2022, the IRA was signed into law, which appropriates significant federal funding for renewable energy initiatives and amends the CAA to impose a first-time fee on the emission of methane from sources required to report their GHG emissions to the EPA, including those sources in the onshore petroleum and natural gas production and gathering and boosting source categories. The methane emissions fee began in calendar year 2024 at $900 per ton of methane, increasing to $1,200 in 2025, and $1,500 for 2026 and each year after. Calculation of the fee is based on certain thresholds established in the IRA. In order to support implementation of the methane emissions fee, including exemptions from the same, the EPA finalized revisions to its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule in May 2024. The revisions amend requirements applicable to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category to ensure reporting is based on empirical data and accurately reflects total methane and waste emissions. The methane emissions fee and renewable and low carbon energy funding provisions of the law could increase our and our customers' operating costs and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, which could in turn reduce demand for our products and services and adversely affect our business and results of operations. However, at this time, it remains uncertain whether the new Presidential administration will take any action to revise or repeal the methane emissions fee or if Congress may take action to repeal or revise the IRA, including with respect to the methane emissions fee.
In recent years, there has been considerable focus on the regulation of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. In response to President Biden's executive order calling on the EPA to revisit federal regulations regarding methane, the EPA finalized more stringent methane rules for new, modified, and reconstructed facilities, known as OOOOb, as well as standards for existing sources known as OOOOc, in December 2023. Fines and penalties for violations of these rules can be substantial. The rules have been subject to legal challenge, and may also be repealed or modified by the Presidential administration or Congress, though we cannot predict the substance or timing of such changes, if any. Moreover, compliance with the new rules may affect the amount we owe under the IRA's methane fee described above because compliance with EPA's methane rules would exempt an otherwise covered facility from the requirement to pay the methane fee. To the extent not repealed or modified by the Presidential administration or Congress, the requirements of the EPA's final methane rules have the potential to increase our operating costs and thus may adversely affect our financial results and cash flows. Moreover, failure to comply with these CAA requirements can result in the imposition of substantial fines and penalties as well as costly injunctive relief.
Various states and groups of states have also adopted or are considering adopting legislation, regulations or other regulatory initiatives that are focused on areas of coverage similar to what the federal government has or may consider, including GHG cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, reporting and tracking programs, and restriction of emissions. At the international level, there exists the United Nations-sponsored "Paris Agreement," which is an agreement for nations to submit non-binding targets to limit their GHG emissions through individually-determined reduction goals every five years after 2020. President Biden announced in April 2021 a new, more rigorous nationally determined emissions reduction level of 50-52% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net GHG emissions by 2030. However, in January 2025, an executive order withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement and from any commitments made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Additionally, the executive order revokes any purported financial commitment made by the United States pursuant to the same. It is unclear what participation, if any, the United States will have in future United Nations climate-related efforts, and the full impact of these developments is uncertain at this time.
Governmental, scientific, and public concern from sources in the United States and across the world over the threat of climate change arising from GHG emissions has resulted in political risks that may limit hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas wells, restrict flaring and venting during natural gas production on government-owned properties, and ban or restrict new or existing leases for production of minerals on government-owned properties. For instance, in the United States, the prior Presidential administration issued several executive orders focused on addressing climate change, including items that may impact costs to produce, or demand for, oil and gas. The use of executive orders in the United States to advance political objectives of Presidential administrations increases regulatory uncertainty for us. Other administrations may issue executive orders that are more favorable to the development and consumption of hydrocarbons. Regulations may be focused on addressing climate change and may impact the costs to produce, or demand for, oil and gas. Additionally, in April 2024, the BLM finalized a rule that would limit flaring from well sites on federal lands, as well as require an operator to submit a waste minimization plan or a self-certification statement committing the operator to capturing 100% of the gas produced from a well and pay royalties on lost gas as part of the permit application process. This rule is currently subject to litigation and its implementation has been halted in North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Montana and Wyoming. The U.S. Department of the Interior's comprehensive review of the federal leasing program resulted in a reduction in the volume of onshore land held for lease and an increased royalty rate. Any regulatory changes that restrict or require modifications to our or our suppliers' existing operations or future expansions plans could reduce the demand for the products and services we provide, increase our operating costs and may have a negative impact on our financial condition.
Litigation risks exist from certain cities, local governments, and other plaintiffs who may bring suit against large oil and natural gas companies in state or federal court, alleging, among other things, that such companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to global warming effects, such as rising sea levels, and therefore are responsible for roadway and infrastructure damages as a result, or alleging that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors or consumers by failing to adequately disclose those impacts. Should we be targeted by such litigation, involvement in such a case could have adverse financial and reputational impacts and an unfavorable ruling could significantly impact our operations and adversely impact our financial condition.
Additionally, from time to time, certain stockholders and bondholders currently invested in fossil fuel energy companies but concerned about the potential effects of climate change may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investments into non-fossil fuel energy related sectors. Institutional investors who provide financing to fossil fuel energy companies have been attentive to sustainability lending, requesting additional action relating to the management of GHG emissions, and some of them may elect not to provide funding for fossil fuel energy companies. Any material reduction in the capital available to the fossil fuel industry could make it more difficult to secure funding for exploration, development, production, transportation, and processing activities, which could impact our and our suppliers' and customers' businesses and operations. In addition, in March 2024, the SEC finalized a rule that would establish a framework for the reporting of climate risks, targets, and metrics. However, implementation of the rule has been stayed pending the outcome of legal challenges, and the future of the rule is uncertain at this time following the change in Presidential administrations. Separately, the State of California adopted several laws that require similar, or in some situations more extensive, disclosure. While implementing rules on certain of these laws are outstanding, both the California laws and the SEC rule, to the extent implemented, may result in increased legal, accounting and financial compliance costs for us and our suppliers and customers to comply, including the implementation of significant additional internal controls processes and procedures regarding matters that have not been subject to such controls in the past, and impose increased oversight obligations on our management and board of directors. We may also face increased litigation risks related to disclosures made pursuant to these requirements.
The potential adoption and implementation of international, federal or state legislation, regulations or other regulatory initiatives in the future that impose more stringent standards for GHG emissions from the oil and natural gas sector or otherwise restrict the areas in which this sector may produce oil and natural gas or generate GHG emissions could result in increased costs of compliance or costs of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for, oil and natural gas, which could reduce demand for our services and products. Additionally, potential political, litigation, and financial risks may result in our oil and natural gas customers restricting or cancelling production activities, incurring potential liability for infrastructure damages as a result of climatic changes, or impairing their ability to continue to operate in an economic manner, which also could reduce demand for our services and products. One or more of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.