By Juliana Ryan | February 26, 2021
From his first day in office, President Biden has signed numerous executive orders, several of which are focused on policies regarding climate change, and in particular the reinstitution of environmental rules subjected to rollbacks by the Trump administration.
Mathias Vuille, professor of atmospheric and environmental sciences, stated, “I am very pleased and encouraged by the steps the Biden administration has taken since they took office. It shows that science matters and is finally taken seriously again when addressing environmental and climate change issues.”
Biden’s recent executive orders announced that the United States will officially rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, an international treaty on climate change that the Trump administration exited in 2017. In addition, a host of new governmental organizations geared toward globalizing and centralizing the attack on climate change have been put into motion.
These new initiatives created positions in the government within the newly established White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy with more jobs to come as President Biden commits to expanding the clean energy industry.
The President outlined the new mandate for federal agencies to procure carbon pollution-free electricity and clean, zero-emission vehicles in the hopes that emissions will be largely reduced and union jobs can be created. This mandate also states that the purchases are to be domestic, further investing in the economy and the creation of new jobs.
Professor Vuille comments, “While I am concerned that some of the actions and steps taken my face hurdles in Congress or may be challenged in court, there are encouraging sign from manufacturers and industry that they are actually in favor of clear emission standards that end uncertainties and help them plan going forward.”
The only other president to sign this many executive orders within the first month was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, signing 30 orders, while President Biden has signed 28 as of Feb. 3.
The new initiatives introduce the goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and oceans by 2030. The Biden Administration has shown a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and putting a magnifying glass on climate change.