On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a temporary block on the Biden administration's pause on new oil and gas leasing on federal public lands. This decision affects the Interior Department's leasing program nationwide and poses challenges to transitioning away from fossil-fuel pollution and addressing climate change.

The Sierra Club, along with other environmental and community organizations, attempted to intervene in the case to support the leasing pause due to concerns about climate, economy, and public health. However, their motion was denied. The Sierra Club has since participated as an amicus curiae.

Camilla Feibelman, Director of the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, responded with a statement: "In truth, oil and gas corporations are sitting on more than 6,000 unused permits to drill in New Mexico alone. Even industry CEOs have admitted that that’s enough to drill for years even if another new lease is never issued. And another new lease never should be issued. The International Energy Agency said it just a few weeks ago: Additional fossil fuels are not compatible with reducing carbon pollution 50% by 2030, so they are not compatible with scientists’ guidance for avoiding climate catastrophe."

Feibelman emphasized the need for a significant investment shift as recommended by the International Energy Agency (IEA), stating that such investment would economically benefit society by reducing reliance on fossil fuels. She noted that "the Biden administration and Secretary Haaland are looking forward for our children and grandchildren," contrasting this with what she described as Big Oil and Gas focusing solely on profits.

She also criticized former President Trump's energy policies: "Trump’s “energy dominance” order ruled our public lands for four years without question by the courts. We hope this legally flawed ruling doesn’t force the Biden administration to lease the 3% of remaining leasable federal lands in New Mexico for polluting extraction and private profit."

Feibelman concluded her statement by expressing concern over oil and gas companies' influence: "It is beyond the pale that oil and gas companies believe they can force a democratically elected government to turn over public lands that are shared by all Americans so that they may profit from and pillage them."