Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, President Biden is signing a series of executive orders and actions that immediately launch a sweeping rebuke of the Trump administration and begin the process of tackling the climate crisis. In addition to bringing the United States back into the international community by re-joining the Paris Agreement and rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, a slew of other strong executive actions spanning the whole of government includes:
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Reviewing and resolving harmful anti-environmental actions taken by the Trump Administration.
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Directing federal agencies to begin a process to cut pollution and safeguard communities from methane
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Re-establishing the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) and directing the issuance of an interim social cost of carbon to account for the full costs of emissions, including climate risk, environmental justice and intergenerational equity
In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:
“What an incredible breath of fresh air that President Biden is already delivering on his promise to prioritize immediate executive action to tackle the climate crisis on day one. These actions are rooted in the rightful recognition of the fact that our planet, our lands, our air, our water, and our communities do not belong to corporations, lobbyists, or government institutions--they belong to us, the people, and protecting them is essential.
“Today we celebrate these actions while we also know that President Biden and his administration will maintain their focus on the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis, because the choices we make together now will shape our society’s direction and the health of our planet for decades and centuries to come.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.