The Biden Administration & Climate Justice: What Does the Future Hold?
Lots of good things, I hope.
Over the weekend, I, and 153+ other leaders from around the world, signed on to a letter demanding that President Biden take serious action on the climate crisis. Today, I saw some of that progress unfold as Biden announced his intended plans to address the climate crisis.
Many know this was not because he just “felt like it.” It’s due to the many environmental activists and environmental justice leaders across the country who pressured his administration to follow through on climate leadership. Let’s get into what he promises to do:
On Environmental Justice :
The Biden Administration really surprised me as it chose to re-center the climate conversation around BIPOC communities most impacted by the climate crisis. Specifically, they noted the economic and racial disparities that are at the heart of environmental racism. This is a very critical and long-awaited narrative shift that will hopefully make environmental justice a long-standing policy priority.
To create this change, Biden promises to back this up by establishing a White House Interagency council on environmental justice. He will also create an office of health and climate equity at the Health and Human Services Department and form a separate environmental justice office at the Justice Department.
To level up this impact, he’s also doing cool things like halting new federal oil and gas leasing on public lands. Additionally, his administration plans to invest 40% of sustainability project money into BIPOC communities. This type of investment could create dramatic transformations for communities that have experienced systemic disinvestment for generations.
Now the question is – how does this administration plan to make a just transition a reality? How will they create a clean energy jobs market to help communities dependent on fossil fuel development for their livelihoods. Time will tell, and we will be watching.
On Energy:
When it comes to energy, this administration has big plans. The Biden Administration is pushing for a carbon-free power sector by 2035 & to make the U.S. a net zero economy by 2050.
While this is awesome, it’s important to note that “net zero” does not mean “completely zero.”
Net zero means an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
However, this doesn’t mean that it will be reduced to zero carbon emissions period.
Although net zero is a great start, if we continue allowing man-made emissions to rise, it’s going to be a mess.
It’s a great start, now it just needs to be followed up by tangible action. This includes banning fracking as well as more pipelines like Line 3 & Line 5. It also means being accountable to creating more clean energy jobs.
On Agriculture:
The Biden Administration is establishing a Civilian Climate Corps Initiative to provide jobs for people to conserve and protect public lands and water.
He also directed the Secretary of Agriculture to collect direct input from stakeholders like Indigenous leaders, farmers, and ranchers. This is to determine how to use federal programs to fuel agricultural practices that can protect land and reduce carbon emissions.
Lastly, he’s following the leadership of Representative Deb Haaland by committing to the 30×30 plan. This is a promise to protect at least 30% of lands and oceans by 2030.
The Paris Agreement & Beyond:
As many people know, the Biden Administration is now putting the United States back into the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is an international agreement that is committed to reducing global green house gas emissions and to finance climate solutions.
Although this agreement is symbolically important, ultimately it is up to state leaders and local officials for wide-scale implementation. Leaders at all levels of government must listen to science and address emissions as well as local climate resilience plans ASAP.
The most exciting news I heard from today’s announcement was Biden’s establishment of the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy & National Climate Task Force. It’s my hope that this task force is able to continue to create measurements of accountability for this administration. This is to ensure they follow up on its ambition to stand for climate leadership.
What’s your role in all of this ?
1. Understand what’s on the table. The first key to holding this presidential administration accountable is knowing what promises were made.
Read more about Biden’s environmental justice plan here, and take a look at the issues.
2. Keep starting climate conversations. Continue to speak out in your community and among your peers about climate change and protections.
Read these articles and convo starters for more pointers on how to keep the momentum alive.
3. Know your representatives. Local government affects our lives on a day-to-day basis, so it’s important to know your representatives and what they stand for.
Use this tool to find your representatives and their stances on the issues.
4. Keep signing petitions. Don’t be afraid to go on the hunt for causes that may be overlooked, or even revisit environmental stories that the media cycle has left behind.
You can start with this petition to make Biden’s first 100 days in office count for the climate.
5. Keep supporting BIPOC communities. Every community has voices of color that are going unheard, how can you support those where you are?
