Dear John,

Today is a day for celebration in the climate movement! Thanks to years of organizing, advocacy, activism and the collective efforts of countless Americans, including thousands of MCV members, the Biden-Harris administration announced a momentous suite of executive actions to tackle the climate crisis today. These executive actions, coupled with the orders that President Biden signed on his first day in office, provide stunning relief and hope that have been hard to imagine in the climate movement for years. 

Today’s executive actions will restore science based policy-making; preserve public lands and oceans; center environmental justice; and coordinate climate efforts across the federal government. These actions build on ambitious day one steps including rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, rescinding the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, and reversing immensely damaging policies of the previous administration. These efforts will help achieve the goals of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and economy by 2050.

Please click here to add your name to a letter thanking President Biden for taking these vital and ambitious actions to tackle the climate crisis. 

The actions announced today are broad and comprehensive, and here are some of the highlights:

• The orders establish a National Climate Task Force that will assemble leaders from across 21 federal agencies and departments to coordinate bold, equitable climate action. This recognizes that the climate crisis affects every aspect of our society.
   
• The orders center environmental justice. Every federal agency is now required to address the disproportionate impacts of the climate crisis and toxic pollution on frontline communities, and 40% of relevant federal investments will be directed to communities that need them most.
   
• Today’s actions signal a serious commitment to shift away from fossil fuels. The Biden administration has paused new oil and gas leasing on public lands - including for offshore drilling. This order also directs federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies as allowed by law and to instead invest in clean energy - aiming toward goals that include doubling renewable energy production by offshore wind by 2030.
   
• One order sets a goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. This is similar to Maine’s “30x30” commitment, articulated in the state’s Climate Action Plan and resonates deeply with Maine people, who know that a healthy ocean and environment are good for our economy, our communities, and ourselves.

We hope you’ll join us in pausing to soak in this moment - to heal and strengthen ourselves for the work still left to do. Cheers to you as we celebrate these victories that felt unimaginable just a few months ago. 

Abbie