WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, President Biden will sign an Executive Order to center the climate crisis in U.S. foreign policy and national security for the first time. Included in the order is a call for the U.S. to build on its commitment to the Paris Agreement, including starting the process of developing the United States’ new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the Agreement, to be announced before Earth Day. The order also reaffirms President Biden’s commitment to decarbonize the U.S. power sector by 2035, achieve a net-zero economy by 2050, begins the process of ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, will convene world leaders on climate on Earth Day 2021, and directs all federal agencies to integrate climate considerations into their international work. The Administration is also announcing the development of a new plan aimed at ending all international financing of fossil fuel projects with public money.
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President Joe Biden issued an executive order to advance conservation, agriculture, and reforestation. Key to this order is the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps. Inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, the new initiative aims to offer well-paying jobs to younger Americans to work conserving and restoring public lands, waters, and forests, increasing carbon sequestration, protecting biodiversity, improving outdoor access, and addressing climate change.
California— Today, the Biden administration announced a pause on new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. The order commences a review of existing leases and permits, and looks to increase offshore wind renewable energy development.
Maryland Board of Public Works granted a wetlands license for the construction of another controversial fracked gas pipeline
Washington, D.C. -- Today, President Biden issued a series of sweeping orders on environmental justice.The orders included:
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Creation of a first-of-its-kind White House environmental justice interagency council to develop clear performance metrics to promote accountability;
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Installation of environmental justice officers at all federal agencies to prepare a report of recommendations on how Executive Order 12898 can be strengthened and updated;
As part of promised swift action on the climate, today the Biden Administration is expected to announce it will pause new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters, review existing leases and permits, and increase offshore wind renewable energy development. Taken together with the existing 60-day pause on fossil fuel development, which includes an examination of the federal coal leasing program, the order makes significant progress in addressing climate emissions from public lands.
Washington, DC -- Today, President Biden will take significant executive action to marshal the entire federal government to address the climate crisis in a just and equitable manner.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
FEBRUARY 3-4, 2021––As devastating cutbacks in public transit loom in the wake of legislative failure to pass sufficient funding, a nationwide coalition will hold a virtual hearing on Transit Equity.
More than 50 workers from all over the U.S. in transit, healthcare, food service and other essential sectors will join disabled transit riders, students, unemployed people and unhoused people to testify about the dire financial and related consequences they face if legislative COVID-19 relief packages fail to provide the money to avoid a catastrophe.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today, the Senate introduced S. 51, the companion bill to Congressmember Eleanor Holmes Norton’s House bill to establish D.C. statehood. The District’s only member of Congress, Congressmember Eleanor Holmes Norton, has no voting power on the floor of the House of Representatives. During the deadly insurrection at the Capitol earlier this month, D.C.’s Mayor Bowser was unable to call in the National Guard to protect the city because she is not a Governor.