Biden Administration Issues New Policies To Address Climate Change
On December 8, President Joe Biden signed an executive order outlining policies that he said would reduce the federal government’s own carbon emissions. The president called on the federal government “to use its scale and procurement power” to reach:
- 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030, at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 demand;
- 100 percent zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) acquisitions by 2035, including 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027;
- Net-zero emissions from federal procurement no later than 2050, including a Buy Clean policy to promote use of construction materials with lower embodied emissions;
- A net-zero emissions building portfolio by 2045, including a 50 percent emissions reduction by 2032; and
- Net-zero emissions from overall federal operations by 2050, including a 65 percent emissions reduction by 2030.
The president said he would achieve these goals by:
- Spending billions to replace the federal government’s 600,000 cars and trucks with an all-electric fleet;
- Renovating federal buildings to make them more energy efficient; and
- Buying power to support cleaner energy.
Also last week: President Biden sent a diplomatic cable sent to every U.S. embassy ordering an immediate end to the financing of coal plants and other carbon-intensive projects and to indirect support (such as technical assistance) to pipeline operators.
According to Bloomberg, the cable said, “Our international energy engagement will center on promoting clean energy, advancing innovative technologies, boosting U.S. clean-tech competitiveness and providing financing and technical assistance to support net-zero transitions around the world.”