Thread by @JesseJenkins

Happy #ClimateDay: FACT SHEET ➡️ "President Biden Takes Executive Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Create Jobs, and Restore Scientific Integrity Across Federal Government" whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

The order "makes clear that both significant short-term global emission reductions and net zero global emissions by mid-century – or before – are required to avoid setting the world on a dangerous, potentially catastrophic, climate trajectory."

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

"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,"

"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."

"the order directs the Director of National Intelligence to prepare a National Intelligence Estimate on the security implications of climate change"

the order "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."

That's the end of the section on Foreign Policy and National Security. Next up: "Take a Whole-of-Government Approach to the Climate Crisis"

"The order formally establishes the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy – led by National Climate Advisor & Deputy National Climate Advisor – creating a central office in the White House that is charged w/coordinating & implementing [POTUS's] domestic climate agenda."

That's @Gina_McCarthy and @alizaidi46 btw. ☝️

To follow a list of Biden's climate team, see: twitter.com/i/lists/135260…

"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."

This next section is perhaps most significant in terms of *direct* impact on US emissions and clean energy deployment and innovation: "Leverage the Federal Government’s Footprint and Buying Power to Lead by Example."

As I said yesterday: Procurement FTW!

https://twitter.com/JesseJenkins/status/1354062886264569861

"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."

"the order requires those purchases be Made in America"

"The order also directs agencies to apply and strictly enforce the prevailing wage and benefit guidelines of the Davis Bacon and other acts and encourage Project Labor Agreements."

"These actions reaffirm that agencies should work to ensure that any jobs created with funds to address the climate crisis are good jobs with a choice to join a union."

"The order directs each federal agency to develop a plan to increase the resilience of its facilities and operations to the impacts of climate change and directs relevant agencies to report on ways to expand and improve climate forecast capabilities" (One for you @CostaSamaras!)

Here's perhaps the most controversial/hot button section: halting fossil fuel leasing on public lands. Let's see what the order actually says...

"The order directs the Secretary of the Interior to pause on entering into new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or offshore waters to the extent possible, launch a rigorous review of all existing leasing and permitting practices related to fossil fuel development..."

"... on public lands and waters, and identify steps that can be taken to double renewable energy production from offshore wind by 2030."

Important note here given push back from the Ute Tribe and other Native Americans: "The order does not restrict energy activities on lands that the United States holds in trust for Tribes...."

"...The Secretary of the Interior will continue to consult with Tribes regarding the development and management of renewable and conventional energy resources, in conformance with the U.S. government’s trust responsibilities."

"The order directs federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies as consistent with applicable law and identify new opportunities to spur innovation, commercialization, and deployment of clean energy technologies and infrastructure."

Here's the "Buy Clean" section:

"The order catalyzes the creation of jobs in construction, manufacturing, engineering and the skilled-trades by directing steps to ensure that every federal infrastructure investment reduces climate pollution"

Also key given large expansion of wind, solar & grid investments needed: "The order also directs agencies to ensure "that steps are taken to accelerate clean energy and transmission projects under federal siting and permitting processes in an environmentally sustainable manner."

On conservation and lands:

"The order commits to the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030 and launches a process for stakeholder engagement from agricultural and forest landowners, fishermen, Tribes, States, Territories, local officials"

Orders "establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps Initiative to ... work conserving and restoring public lands and waters, increasing reforestation, increasing carbon sequestration, protecting biodiversity, improving access to recreation, and addressing the changing climate."

Soil carbon: "The order directs the Secretary of Agriculture to collect input from farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders on how to use federal programs to encourage adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices that produce verifiable carbon reductions and sequestrations"

Just transition and economic development priorities to "revitalize energy communities" up next:

"order establishes an Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization, to be co-chaired by" @Gina_McCarthy & @BrianDeeseNEC.

The order also "directs federal agencies to coordinate investments and other efforts to assist coal, oil and natural gas, and power plant communities. "

Not quite a National Just Transition Agency/Office yet, but a start.

"order tasks the new Interagency Working Group to advance projects that reduce emissions of toxic substances and greenhouse gases from existing and abandoned infrastructure and that prevent environmental damage that harms communities and poses a risk to public health and safety"

"In addition, the new Interagency Working Group is also directed to explore efforts to turn properties idled in these communities, like brownfields, into new hubs for the growth of our economy."

Environmental Justice and Economic Opportunity are central to Biden's climate agenda, as the Washington Post reported yesterday: washingtonpost.com/climate-enviro…

Here's that section...

"The order formalizes Biden’s commitment to make environmental justice a part of mission of every agency by directing agencies to develop programs, policies, & activities to address disproportionate health, environmental, economic, and climate impacts on disadvantaged communities

"Order establishes a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council and a White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council to prioritize environmental justice and ensure a whole-of-government approach to addressing current and historical environmental injustices"

A big priority for EJ advocates: "order creates a govt-wide Justice40 Initiative w/goal of delivering 40% of overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities & tracks performance toward goal through the establishment of Environmental Justice Scorecard

That 40% goal is modeled after New York state's landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 btw. More here climate.ny.gov

"The order initiates the development of a Climate and Environmental Justice Screening Tool, building off EPA’s EJSCREEN, to identify disadvantaged communities, support the Justice40 Initiative, and inform equitable decision making across the federal government"

That's good! What we don't measure we can't address. California has made a lot of progress on this front too. See the most recent CalEnviroScreen portal here oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscree…

The rest of the order pertains to reconstituting the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which provides key science-based guidance on all kinds of federal policy issues, not least of which is climate change.

The full order: whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

That's a wrap. Just another day in the Biden-Harris Administration. Lots of directives, councils & task forces. The work is just beginning! Legislation is needed to take biggest steps. But clear sign Biden is serious RE making #climateaction a top priority of the Administration.