Thread by @dana1981

The @POTUS Climate Crisis Executive Order last week was a BFD! In @CC_Yale today, I discuss how it was basically a mini #GreenNewDeal. Here's the article, and thread 🧵:
yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/02/bidens…

The #GreenNewDeal framework is largely a deployment of federal investments in clean technologies for lots of sectors, creating millions of jobs while cleaning up fossil fuel pollution and correcting environmental injustices. That's exactly the framework of the climate crisis EO!

On emissions reductions, the EO targets net-zero carbon from US electricity by 2035 and zero-emissions vehicles for federal, state, local fleets, including @USPS trucks. Those two sectors account for close to 60% of US carbon pollution.

The electricity sector target is great, but it's not clear how much an EO can get done here. It can give @EPA a target to shoot for, but an assist through congressional legislation would be big here. I discussed the possibilities a couple weeks ago: yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/commen…

The electrification of the federal fleet is huge, and one of the most consequential components of @POTUS' climate EOs. Currently just 2% of US car sales are EVs/plug-ins (way too low!), with 1.4M on the road. The federal fleet is 650k vehicles, so would increase that nearly 50%!

Transportation is the #1 GHG emissions sector in the US (28%) and remains stagnant at 2005 levels, unlike electricity, where emissions have declined as coal has been replaced by cleaner cheaper alternatives. Federal procurement creates stable demand for EVs, which will cut costs.

California & Massachusetts also both set mandates for 100% emissions-free vehicle sales by 2035. EVs are the future. Automakers see the writing on the wall. @GM now aims for 100% zero-emissions sales by 2035 and started hiring >1000 workers at US plants making batteries and EVs.

Signing the EO, @POTUS said “When I think of climate, I think of jobs,” and it shows! The EO creates a Civilian Climate Corps like the original New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps. GND proponents @AOC & @VarshPrakash pushed for this on the Biden-Sanders climate task force.

The climate crisis EO also stipulates that federal procurement of EVs, clean energy, energy efficiency, etc. will follow the @POTUS 'Made in America' EO. Federal procurement of EVs, etc. will thus create lots of US jobs too, as we're already seeing with @GM.

The EO also does a lot on environmental justice, including establishing a Justice40 Initiative to get 40% of investment benefits to disadvantaged communities. It includes communities of color & low-income hurt by fossil fuel pollution & regions reliant on fossil fuel extraction.

The GND & EO also both aim to remove carbon from the atmosphere by restoring natural ecosystems, both through forest preservation and also importantly agricultural practices; e.g., the EO tells @USDA to encourage the voluntary adoption of climate-smart ag & forestry practices.

The EO is obv much smaller than a full-blown #GreenNewDeal. EOs only apply to federal agencies, so there's only so much they can do. But it's great to see @POTUS following the GND framework & accomplishing so much toward its goals. Rest is up to Congress:
yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/commen…

Now it's up to federal agencies to implement the orders outlined by @POTUS. Fortunately he's put a great climate team in place to do that! End of thread, now please go read the article for more details 😁
yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/02/bidens…