Today , President Biden will take executive action to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad while creating good-paying union jobs and equitable clean energy future , building modern and sustainable infrastructure , restoring scientific integrity and evidence-based policymaking across the federal government , and re-establishing the President ’ s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology .

These Executive Orders follow through on President Biden ’ s promise to take aggressive action to tackle climate change and build on the executive actions that the President took on his first day in office , including rejoining the Paris Agreement and immediate review of harmful rollbacks of standards that protect our air , water , and communities .

President Biden set ambitious goals that will ensure America and the world can meet the urgent demands of the climate crisis , while empowering American workers and businesses to lead a clean energy revolution that achieves a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and puts the United States on an irreversible path to a net-zero economy by 2050 . Today ’ s actions advance those goals and ensure that we are tapping into the talent , grit , and innovation of American workers , revitalizing the U . S . energy sector , conserving our natural resources and leveraging them to help drive our nation toward a clean energy future , creating well-paying jobs with the opportunity to join a union , and delivering justice for communities who have been subjected to environmental harm .

President Biden will also sign an important Presidential Memorandum on scientific integrity to send a clear message that the Biden-Harris Administration will protect scientists from political interference and ensure they can think , research , and speak freely to provide valuable information and insights to the American people . Additionally , and in line with the scientific-integrity memorandum ’ s charge to reestablish scientific advisory committees , President Biden will sign an Executive Order re-establishing the President ’ s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology .

Today ’ s Executive Order takes bold steps to combat the climate crisis both at home and throughout the world . In signing this Executive Order , President Biden has directed his Administration to :

Center the Climate Crisis in U . S . Foreign Policy and National Security Considerations

• The order clearly establishes climate considerations as an essential element of U . S . foreign policy and national security .

• The order affirms that , in implementing – and building on – the Paris Agreement ’ s objectives , the United States will exercise its leadership to promote a significant increase in global ambition . It makes clear that both significant short-term global emission reductions and net zero global emissions by midcentury – or before – are required to avoid setting the world on a dangerous , potentially catastrophic , climate trajectory .

• The order reaffirms that the President will host a Leaders ’ Climate Summit on Earth Day , April 22 , 2021 ; that the United States will reconvene the Major Economies Forum ; that , to underscore the administration ’ s commitment to elevating climate in U . S . foreign policy , the President has created a new position , the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate , which will have a seat on the National Security Council , and that it will be a U . S . priority to press for enhanced climate ambition and integration of climate considerations across a wide range of international fora .

• The order also kicks off the process of developing the United States ’ “ nationally determined contribution ” – our emission reduction target – under the Paris Agreement , as well as a climate finance plan .

• Among numerous other steps aimed at prioritizing climate in U . S . foreign policy and national security , the order directs the Director of National Intelligence to prepare a National Intelligence Estimate on the security implications of climate change , the State Department to prepare a transmittal package to the Senate for the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol , and all agencies to develop strategies for integrating climate considerations into their international work .

Take a Whole-of-Government Approach to the Climate Crisis

• The order formally establishes the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy – led by the first-ever National Climate Advisor and Deputy National Climate Advisor – creating a central office in the White House that is charged with coordinating and implementing the President ’ s domestic climate agenda .

• The order establishes the National Climate Task Force , assembling leaders from across 21 federal agencies and departments to enable a whole-of-government approach to combatting the climate crisis .

Leverage the Federal Government ’ s Footprint and Buying Power to Lead by Example

• Consistent with the goals of the President ’ s Build Back Better jobs and economic recovery plan , of which his clean energy jobs plan is a central pillar , the order directs the federal agencies to procure carbon pollution-free electricity and clean , zero-emission vehicles to create good-paying , union jobs and stimulate clean energy industries .

16 FEBRUARY 2021 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com