A lot happened last month, friend.
In the first week alone, we saw two huge wins in Georgia, then the insurrectionists incited by Mr. Trump mobbed our nation’s capital. Thankfully, the insurrectionist movement was stopped, and we inaugurated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on January 20, just two weeks ago.
And the Biden-Harris administration hit the ground running in the face of several national issues including the pandemic, an economic crisis, racial injustice and inequity, and climate change. Since day one, President Biden has signed executive actions addressing everything from the federal coronavirus response to racial justice initiatives. Among these actions were vital and meaningful orders addressing the climate crisis.
It really is incredible what the new administration has accomplished on climate in just a few weeks. It signals their commitment to upholding the campaign promise of taking bold climate action and a recognition of the climate voters around the country, like you, who demanded it.
Because so much has happened, here is a brief outline of just some of the key actions signed so far meant to immediately address the climate crisis:
- Rejoining the Paris Agreement and the global effort on climate change.
- Moratorium on all new oil and gas drilling on public lands as well as extensive review of all existing leases/permits.
- Creating a Civilian Climate Corps to “put a new generation of Americans to work conserving and restoring public lands and waters.”
- Canceling construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
- Committing to conserving 30% of public lands and oceans by 2030.
- Establishing a National Climate Task Force from 21 federal agencies for a “whole-government approach to the climate crisis.”
- Centering the climate crisis in U.S. foreign policy and national security considerations.
- Creating an office of health and climate equity at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Additionally, the administration has signaled that it is not just concentrated on addressing climate change in a vacuum, but focusing these actions through the frame of environmental justice:
- Creating an environmental justice enforcement directive for the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Creating an environmental justice office at the Department of Justice.
- Creating a White House environmental justice interagency council.
- Ensuring at least 40% of benefits (through clean energy and other infrastructure investments) are going to marginalized communities.
Not long ago, the political will to stand up to the powerful oil and gas lobbies and do what is necessary just did not exist. But thanks to the mandate on climate given by voters and the tireless efforts of this community plus our various partner organizations across the country, we’ve successfully pushed our elected leaders to put the climate crisis front and center.
We can be extremely proud of what we’ve all accomplished together. And look forward to continue pushing for a greener and more just future for all.
The future is bright,
TS Climate Team
