diff --git a/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/environment_variables.py b/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/environment_variables.py
index 0810acc5ff0..5c5a9b3c4aa 100644
--- a/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/environment_variables.py
+++ b/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/environment_variables.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
 .. envvar:: OTEL_PYTHON_TRACER_PROVIDER
 """
 
-_OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER = "OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER"
+OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER = "OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER"
 """
 .. envvar:: OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER
 """
diff --git a/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/metrics/_internal/__init__.py b/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/metrics/_internal/__init__.py
index d42c476976d..f3c37b38563 100644
--- a/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/metrics/_internal/__init__.py
+++ b/opentelemetry-api/src/opentelemetry/metrics/_internal/__init__.py
@@ -47,9 +47,7 @@
 from threading import Lock
 from typing import List, Optional, Sequence, Set, Tuple, Union, cast
 
-from opentelemetry.environment_variables import (
-    _OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER as OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER,
-)
+from opentelemetry.environment_variables import OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER
 from opentelemetry.metrics._internal.instrument import (
     CallbackT,
     Counter,
diff --git a/opentelemetry-api/tests/metrics/test_meter_provider.py b/opentelemetry-api/tests/metrics/test_meter_provider.py
index 5a40446facf..2fa9fe1e736 100644
--- a/opentelemetry-api/tests/metrics/test_meter_provider.py
+++ b/opentelemetry-api/tests/metrics/test_meter_provider.py
@@ -20,9 +20,7 @@
 
 import opentelemetry.metrics._internal as metrics_internal
 from opentelemetry import metrics
-from opentelemetry.environment_variables import (
-    _OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER as OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER,
-)
+from opentelemetry.environment_variables import OTEL_PYTHON_METER_PROVIDER
 from opentelemetry.metrics import (
     NoOpMeter,
     NoOpMeterProvider,