Paging Earth is a climate communications blog dedicated to demystifying, depolarizing, and educating the public about climate activism and climate science. Now that we’ve discussed the nuances of the climate crisis, let’s talk about viable solutions.
As the world searches for a path to long-term sustainability, the United States finds itself in a unique position as one of the largest producers of carbon emissions. President Joe Biden campaigned on the most progressive environmental and environmental justice platforms in American history. While this is undeniably a step in the right direction, it does not guarantee that Biden’s proposed policies will be sufficient, or even that the proposals will be carried out.
American voters have entrusted Biden to handle the climate crisis. It’s crucial that those who elected Biden understand his approach to climate change in order to hold him accountable. The American people — and the world — deserve transparent, accessible knowledge of how President Biden and his administration are dealing with climate change.
Current Climate Policies
Biden has made a small yet powerful step in working to end climate change by simply acknowledging its existence. However, an acknowledgment in and of itself is not action.
The more concrete goals of the Biden administration are ambitious yet achievable. On the first day of his presidency, Biden signed an extensive executive order focused on environmental protection. This action alone established that the Biden administration would follow the guidance of climate scientists. It acknowledges that climate change disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color. This is also the order that, fortunately, revoked the permit for the harmful Keystone XL Pipeline.
Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement on the same day he signed the aforementioned executive order — signaling a commitment to limiting global warming and developing the American economy in a globally climate-conscious manner.
Another significant executive order provides more firm promises. With a focus on mitigating climate change domestically and internationally, Biden set a goal of 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. The order pledges economic development through promoting climate-aligned investments and creating opportunities in the renewable energy industry for women and people of color. Biden also established a National Climate Task Force and the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in the same brief.
In April, Biden stated that “creating jobs and tackling climate change go hand in hand.” Within the details of this release, Biden promised to uplift working communities by creating millions of union jobs that will aid in improving America’s infrastructure in the name of carbon innovation.
This is one of the many plans for climate-focused economic development proposed by the Biden Administration. While this is certainly an unprecedented focus on environmental equity and economic sustainability, Americans are asking for more.
Criticism from Environmental Activists
While Joe Biden’s policies are ambitious, they are not without criticism from environmental activists and climate change scientists.
The plans of the Biden administration noticeably fall short of the Roosevelt Institute’s proposed pathway for reaching net-zero carbon emissions — which suggests more timely targets for reducing emissions in America specifically. The report states that America must reach carbon neutrality by 2040 at the latest due to the country’s history of disastrous emission rates. The Roosevelt Institute also encourages the implementation of a carbon dividend, which would raise the price of carbon-intensive products while protecting low-income Americans.
Many progressive environmental justice activists share the belief that the proposed actions are not enough in the face of the climate crisis. In an interview with MSNBC, Greta Thunberg claimed that Biden’s policies are not in line with the scientific urgency. Thunberg encouraged Biden to treat climate change as a crisis rather than a controversial topic.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-author of the Green New Deal, referred to Biden’s approach to climate change as “disappointing.” She acknowledged that the administration’s focus on reducing carbon emissions and rebuilding infrastructure is important, but felt Biden must operate on a larger scale.
Sunrise Movement — a youth-driven organization dedicated to addressing climate change — cited the Biden administration’s policy rollouts as “major climate victories.” However, an article they released the day after Biden’s inauguration declared that simply adhering to the Paris Climate Agreement would not stop the climate crisis. Sunrise calls on Biden to act at the ambitious pace proposed in the Green New Deal by mobilizing federal resources to house, feed, and employ Americans while reducing carbon emissions.
In response to Biden’s plans released at the Summit on Climate Change, the Indigenous Environmental Network issued a statement slamming the net-zero target for climate emissions. “‘Net-zero’ emissions sounds like it cuts emissions to zero but it does not,” the statement reads. “Net-zero’ emissions pretend to ‘remove’ pollution with false solutions to climate change to justify polluting more.” The organization argues that this empty promise steers the Earth on a disastrous course.
Biden’s Room for Improvement
With criticisms coming from all directions, there is immense pressure on the Biden administration to take a new course of action. Research emphasizes that the United States can no longer avoid partaking in global climate action and that Biden must strengthen his environmental policies. Political polarization makes this a difficult task, but there are still plentiful options.
In an open letter to Biden, members of the Union of Concerned Scientists urge the president to take more proactive action. Creating more restrictive pollution standards for vehicles, for example, could put America on track to have all of its newly produced trucks and buses be zero-emission by as soon as 2040. This would not only reduce dangerous air pollution, but would also lead to an increase in investments for equitable public transportation.
The letter also suggests that Biden begin aiding sustainable farming research efforts. With proper assistance, these programs will allow farmers to become direct contributors to reducing carbon emissions within their practice. It could also cultivate healthier soil and more advanced systems of farming, lowering the price of produce.
Although Biden has previously voiced concerns regarding the Green New Deal, he has continuously been encouraged by NGOs and politicians to adopt ideas from it. Investment in America’s natural infrastructures, such as wildlife habitats, would create an opportunity to advance nature-based approaches for preventing climate change. Additionally, a push to reduce methane pollution could slow the rate of global warming by nearly 30%.
The Future of American Environmental Policy
America is relying on Biden to implement the necessary groundwork to halt climate change. The success of Biden’s policies will certainly depend on the systemic action that they create.
While Biden needs the cooperation of Congress to increase climate-related investments, he still plans to focus on climate action within all federal agencies. Biden also needs to shift focus globally as his administration acknowledges that the rest of the world is responsible for roughly 85% of climate-damaging emissions. His actions must be quick, effective, and irreversible if America is going to contribute to ending climate change.
