Biden administration finalizes climate policies amidst political heat
As the 2024 political season heats up, President Joe Biden's administration completes a series of long-awaited yet diluted climate regulations.
Marianne Lavelle reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The Securities and Exchange Commission will enforce new climate-related risk disclosure rules, with less stringent requirements than initially planned.
- Environmental Protection Agency to set emissions regulations for coal plants while postponing rules on natural gas plants, which now contribute a larger share of greenhouse gases.
- Future vehicle emissions standards aim to support the transition to electric vehicles, but the pace of implementation may be slower than previously proposed.
Key quote:
". . . the climate clock is running out even faster. And I would like to see more urgency, in terms of not just completing the rules by a deadline, but making them aggressive enough to be on track to meet our targets.”
— Nathaniel Keohane, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Why this matters:
The watering down of these climate regulations could have profound implications on the nation's ability to meet its carbon reduction commitments. Amid the broader backdrop of increasing global climate urgency, these policies play a crucial role in shaping the country's environmental and public health future.
Be sure to read Dr. Richard J. Jackson’s 2020 piece: As Biden targets climate change, we must focus attention on public health.
