by Hannah Hall
As the new administration begins its transition, we see a new era in climate-change policy. Hannah lays it out for us.
We are headed towards an environmental meltdown. And I’m not even talking about the pandemic going on. I may be exaggerating, but our world is dying, and I know you know why….climate change. Our world can only handle so much more.
Unluckily for America, during President Trump’s four years in charge, he has majorly reversed our progress towards climate-change solutions. Just to name a few setbacks, he has pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, ditched the requirements of The Clean Power Plan that would have cut our national carbon emissions by 32% by 2030, and removed climate change as a national security threat (nationalgeographic.com).
But, luckily for America, our President-Elect Joe Biden has plans for climate change. He publicly announced that “the number one issue facing humanity” is climate change, and if left “unchecked, it is going to actually bake this planet…[and] we have a moral obligation [to solve it]” (cnbc.com). Biden has three plans: the Tackle Climate Emergency plan, the Clean Energy Future plan, and the Secure Environmental Justice plan. So, to get the gist of these plans across, I have created a bullet list full of quick facts.
Joe Biden will…
- work to turn the solutions for climate into opportunities for economic growth, thus creating jobs for middle-class Americans.
- ensure America has a 100% clean economy with zero emissions by 2050.
- attempt to ensure that our future is protected from the harmful effects of climate change.
- re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement.
- fund carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technology.
- partner with family farmers, ranchers, and landowners to provide more water and encourage the practice of better, decarbonized agriculture.
- put climate change back on the list of national security priorities.
- increase demand for and integration of more American non-carbon emitting vehicles.
- cut energy bills and energy pollution by establishing the Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard (EECES).
- create the Environmental and Climate Justice Division within the US Department of Justice, establish an Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the US Department of Health and Human Services, and create the position of Climate Czar in the Cabinet.
- improve public health in disadvantaged communities by prioritizing, identifying, and systemizing climate strategies to improve their air pollution. ***
***all bullets are sourced from joebiden.com***
So, as you can tell, when Joe Biden becomes our leader, our country has a lot of climate change advances to look forward to. Personally, I am looking forward to the days of our country being protected when these policies are enacted. I hope that now, you are too. But just because Joe Biden’s policies are quite progressive regarding climate change, it doesn’t mean the fight is over.
Future of Politics Editor: Jake Sonderman
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/24/joe-biden-climate-change-is-number-one-issue-facing-humanity.html
https://joebiden.com/climate-plan/
Yay! This is so encouraging that we will back on track for dealing with Climate Change and Global Warming. One thing you didn’t mention that Biden created a “Climate Czar” in John Kerry that will be at Cabinet Level. John Kerry is a very accomplished legislator and politician, well received around the world. He, under Biden’s charge, will guide us back to where we should be and undo as much damage from the Trump era, as soon as is humanly possible.
I know this is a very important and looming issue, that is especially on the minds of our younger generations (and old progressives, like me.) Thank you for summarizing Biden’s intentions. I pray they get done, and FAST.
When Trump addressed the UN General Assembly in 2019, he said the “The future does not belong to Globalists. The future belongs to patriots. The future belongs to strong independent nations”.
He cannot see the blue green breathing single planetary organism of “Earth”.
He can only see artificial borders walled and policed by proud patriotic nationalists.
Bellowing this “vision of division”, he would sacrifice the life of the planet to “make America Great”.
Thank God this folly will end in January.
And thank God a clear thinking young woman at PVS celebrates its end.