Thread by @Dlashof

On “Climate Day”, President Biden is making good on his commitment to tackle climate change by signing a suite of executive orders directing all agencies of the federal government to prioritize #climateaction at home and abroad.
Here are the major actions [Thread]

International Leadership. Biden directs the U.S. to begin the process of developing the country’s emission reduction target (NDC), a climate finance plan and hosting the international climate summit on April 22 to push major emitters to ramp up climate ambition.

Foreign Policy and National Security. Climate change must now be prioritized as an essential element when considering U.S. foreign policy, national security decisions and other international work.

Federal Lands & Waters. Biden commits to #30by30–conserving 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. Biden also pauses new oil and gas leases on public lands and offshore waters, and directs a review of existing leasing/permitting practices.

Federal Agencies. Leaders from 21 federal agencies and departments will make up the National Climate Task Force to enable a whole-of-government approach to combat the #climatecrisis.

Zero-Emission Electricity and Vehicles. All federal agencies must procure carbon pollution-free electricity and clean, zero-emission vehicles to create good-paying, union jobs and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Infrastructure. Now is the time to invest in low-carbon infrastructure. Biden directs federal infrastructure investment to reduce emissions and accelerate #cleanenergy projects to create jobs in construction, manufacturing, engineering & skilled trades.

Just Transition. Biden establishes an Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization to support #fossilfuel communities.
Here are three steps to aid workers in this transition wri.org/blog/2021/01/c…

Environmental Justice. Each federal agency must develop programs, policies, and activities to address the disproportionate health, environmental, economic, and climate impacts on disadvantaged communities.

Environmental Justice. Biden establishes the Justice40 initiative to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities and track performance toward that goal through the establishment of an Environmental Justice Scorecard.

Agriculture. Use federal programs to encourage adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices that produce verifiable carbon reductions and sequestration and create new sources of income and jobs for rural Americans.

President Biden’s orders are significant progress in addressing the #climatecrisis. Great start on the 10 priorities I outlined in my post-election commentary. wri.org/news/biden-cli…
Now it’s time for Congress to step up and respond to the call for #climateaction.