Environmental Policy During the Biden Administration
Throughout its leadership, the Biden Administration has made climate policies a top priority. From an executive order on the first day in office reaffirming commitment to the Paris Agreement, to advocating for long-term legislative action, it is clear that the United States is entering a new era for environmental protection efforts. However, this approach has been met with pushback from legislators and courts across the country, greatly impacting the effectiveness of climate legislation and contributing to the influx of executive action to enforce climate policy. With recent announcements stating the intent of the administration to pass additional executive orders to strengthen the response to climate change, let’s review the ongoing approach to combating the crisis.
Long Term Legislative Action
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was the first major piece of climate legislation passed during this administration. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support, and aims to rebuild critical infrastructure, expand internet access, address the climate crisis, advance environmental justice initiatives, and secure access to clean drinking water. The bill prioritizes investing in sustainable transportation methods such as electric vehicle charging stations and public transportation networks in order to ensure that climate resilient infrastructure projects are implemented. Over the next ten years the bill is projected to allocate 1 trillion to the infrastructure deal and allocate another 1.75 trillion to a package intended for social spending and tax breaks for lower and middle-income households, while adding 1.5 million jobs in order to fulfill the mandate of the bill.
The Inflation Reduction Act proved to be a much more contentious piece of legislation, and is the result of negotiations over the original Build Back Better Act. This week saw new commitment from a key member of the Senate which could enable this bill to be passed after months of reforms. In its current form, this bill aims to raise the minimum corporate tax rate to 15%, reform the price of prescription drugs, increase tax enforcement by the IRS and close the carried interest loophole. The revenue incurred from these specific forms will be spent on the expansion of the Affordable Care Act, deficit reduction, energy security and climate crisis. The bill specifically aims to reduce carbon emissions in the United States by 40% by 2030 and while pivoting funds to invest entirely in domestic energy production and manufacturing.
Executive Action
From the first day in office, it was clear that executive orders would be employed to push aggressive climate policies that have received widespread support from environmental groups and the public. Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, was passed on inauguration day and mandated a review of actions and policies taken by the previous administration in order to ensure that they were in line with the current administration’s climate policies. With major delays on legislative measures, executive orders have proved popular with the administration in order to streamline action on climate change. Just this week, Biden announced additional executive orders that are aimed at addressing the impact of rising temperatures and the implementation of new offshore wind projects. Much like with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this executive order aims to create new jobs in an emerging industry that requires the construction of new green energy infrastructure, and also aims to protect and prioritize vulnerable populations.
From implementing critical infrastructure, to establishing energy security, and to reforming climate justice, the Biden Administration is trying to address the climate crisis in a meaningful way. Assisting the long term legislative efforts have led to two major bills being passed through Congress, and the wide variety of issues addressed through the administration’s executive orders have been praised by environmental organizations. While climate change remains a pressing issue, and there is still much to do, the actions from the Biden Administration are a step in the right direction for environmental policy in the United States.
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