Hi team,

April has been busy for climate news, so we wanted to give a quick recap of the month’s most important stories.

Setting the Record Straight on the American Petroleum Institute

Ever since the Biden administration took office, the folks at the American Petroleum Institute (API) have been running a desperate image rehabilitation campaign. We’ve issued a clear warning: DON’T fall for it.

API wants Americans to believe they’re interested in discussing climate policy. A quick look at their record of obstructing climate action, however, reveals that what they’re really interested in is undermining bold reforms by proposing tepid solutions as a “compromise.”

API didn’t even try to keep up the charade for that long. Less than a week after releasing their scientifically dubious “Climate Action Framework,” API put out a statement blasting President Biden for not including funding for climate-worsening oil pipelines in his infrastructure plan.

To be frank, we think it’s time for API to put their money where their mouth is. For instance, earlier this month, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland traveled to Bears Ears National Monument in Utah to hear testimony from tribal leaders about the monument’s future. If API is serious about working with the Biden administration to combat climate change, now would be a great time for them to back off of their record of working to exploit public lands for drilling and oil exploration. (To be clear, we’re not holding our breath.)

Biden Makes Big Earth Week Announcement

At the end of Earth Week, President Biden announced big plans to follow through on his campaign promise to curb carbon emissions. He wants to triple the rate at which the U.S. is cutting emissions, and reach a reduction of 50 to 52% by the year 2030.

With bold ambitions like that, it’s easy to see why the fossil fuel lobbyists at API are getting nervous.

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