White House, BIO zero in on methane

COP28 continues with a major methane announcement from the White House, just one week ahead of BIO’s panel on methane. Last week, a BIO member company told House New Democrats why IP protections are vital to innovation. (593 words, 2 minutes, 57 seconds)

COP28: White House, BIO zero in on methane

The White House announced new standards to limit methane emissions at COP28 in Dubai, one week before BIO cohosts a panel on methane at the climate talks there. 

The new standards: The Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule is projected to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 80% by focusing on major sources like leaks at oil and gas operations, the White House said.

Why it matters: It’s a quick, cheap, effective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions dramatically because “it’s mostly plumbing,” U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry told The New York Times.

BIO’s panel on “Reducing Methane from Food and Agriculture” takes place in the COP28 Blue Zone on Saturday, December 9. Anna Rath, CEO of Vestaron and Chair of BIO’s Agriculture & Environment Section Board, will moderate the panel, cohosted by the International Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Biotech innovations for methane include animal feed additives that can reduce methane emissions by as much as one-third, but regulatory improvements are needed to get them to the market.

BIO will cohost a second COP28 panel, “Utilizing Biotechnology for Climate Resilience: Public Policy, Innovation and Global Impact” on Sunday, December 10. Vestaron’s Rath will join as a panelist.

What’s next: While the White House announced further initiatives, President Biden’s decision to sit out COP28 indicates the executive order on methane may be the main U.S. contribution, opined analysts. Meanwhile, BIO will take full advantage of COP28 to spread understanding of biotech’s contribution to battling climate change.

Watch: BIO explains what it’s doing at COP28 and how our members are growing the bioeconomy to address climate change and food security.

House New Democrats and BIO discuss IP waivers

As U.S. officials consider expanding the World Trade Organization (WTO) COVID vaccine intellectual property waiver, a BIO member company told lawmakers why IP protections are vital to innovation.

What happened last week: During a meeting of the House New Democrat Coalition, Christoph Bausch, COO of SAb Biotherapeutics and a South Dakota Biotech Board member, explained the importance of strong IP protections for the success of small and early-stage biotech companies.

Why it matters: The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) last year agreed to a waiver of WTO TRIPS protection for IP rights regarding COVID vaccines. Now, USTR is considering extending the waiver of IP on COVID-19 vaccines to include COVID diagnostics and therapeutics.

Who are the New Democrats? Nearly 100 moderate House members, likely to influence decisions about further IP waivers.

Who we met: Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Chair of the New Democrats’ Health Care Task Force; Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Chair of New Democrats’ Trade Task Force; House Judiciary Committee members Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Deborah Ross (D-NC); and, Financial Services Committee member Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO). Other panelists included the U.S. Chamber’s Patrick Kilbride, AdvaMed’s Ashley Miller, and Sergio Espinosa of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

BIO opposes COVID IP waivers—because strong IP ensures biotech innovators are remunerated fairly for time and money invested in developing new treatments. BIO has met with international officials in Geneva, testified at a federal hearing, and highlighted a federal report on the issue.

More Health News:

UCB: Delivering meaningful and accessible innovation for people living with severe diseases
“Mark Morgan, President and Head of U.S. Operations and Payer Value Strategy, joined Roger Palframan, Head of U.S. Research, to unpack UCB’s journey across the discovery-development-delivery continuum, and to discuss how UCB works to deliver on innovation, now, and how we’ll continue in the future.” 

President Biden’s Monday: No official events scheduled.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: It’s a quiet start to the week. Tomorrow, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on Drug Shortages: Examining Supply Challenges, Impacts, and Policy Solutions from a Federal Health Program Perspective.