White House unveils new climate goals weeks before Trump’s return
By AFP
December 19, 2024
US President Joe Biden speaks on Earth Day at Prince William Forest Park on April 22, 2024 in Triangle, Virginia
Issam AHMED
President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday unveiled a new climate target under the landmark Paris accord, just weeks before Donald Trump’s return to the White House threatens to upend US efforts to combat global warming.
According to a White House Statement, the United States commits to reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 61-66 percent below 2005 levels by 2035, reflecting the world’s second-largest polluter’s goal of limiting long-term heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“I’m proud that my administration is carrying out the boldest climate agenda in American history,” Biden said in a video statement hailing the new measures, aimed at keeping the United States on the path to net zero emissions by 2050.
“We will turn this existential threat into a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our nation for generations to come.”
But his climate legacy hangs in the balance, with Trump’s second term expected to bring sweeping rollbacks of environmental protections and a retreat from international commitments, including the Paris agreement, mirroring his first term.
“In his first term, President Trump advanced conservation and environmental stewardship while promoting economic growth for families,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AFP.
She added Trump’s policies “produced affordable, reliable energy for consumers along with stable, high-paying jobs” and vowed that his second term “will once again deliver clean air and water for American families while Making America Wealthy Again.”
– States and businesses to the rescue?
In a call with reporters, Biden’s global climate envoy John Podesta acknowledged that while Trump “may put climate action on the back burner,” he remained confident in the private sector and state and local governments to drive progress.
“That’s not wishful thinking — it’s happened before,” he stressed.
Environmental groups broadly welcomed the new targets, which were due before a deadline in February and include a commitment to reduce emissions of super polluting methane by 35 percent by 2035.
“This provides an important rallying point and benchmark for forward-looking states, cities, and businesses that understand addressing climate change is good for the economy,” Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists told AFP.
“Even though the Trump administration may not lift a finger to deliver on this plan, it sets a north star for what the US should be aiming for,” added Debbie Weyl of the World Resources Institute.
– Bold record, with caveats –
Biden’s administration arguably pursued the most ambitious climate agendas in US history, marked by rejoining the Paris agreement, passing the Inflation Reduction Act with record clean energy investments, and committing to protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030.
Yet critics point to the contradiction of the US maintaining its status as the world’s largest fossil fuel producer, complicating efforts to lead on global climate action.
While China is the world’s largest emitter, the United States remains the largest historic polluter, amplifying its responsibility to address the climate crisis, environmentalists argue.
Despite progress, the US remains off-track to meet its current 2030 target of reducing emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels.
A recent report by the independent Rhodium Group said the United States was on track to achieve only a 32-43 percent reduction by 2030, though a senior Biden administration official said their own estimate “now reaches up to 45-46 percent.”
Meanwhile, the European Union — the world’s fourth largest emitter — is debating a 90 percent reduction by 2040 over 1990 levels, but will likely miss a February UN deadline to file its revised climate roadmap.
Neil Makaroff, an analyst at the Strategic Perspectives think tank specializing in climate transition, said the European Union is “behind schedule” in presenting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and is “unlikely to fit into the UN timetable”.
Market trends and falling renewable energy costs may limit backsliding under Trump, but Cleetus cautioned against complacency, highlighting concerns about fossil fuel expansion.
“Regardless of the politics, the science and what’s happening in the world are very clear,” she said, noting that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record as climate catastrophes mount.
Even if Trump withdraws the United States from the Paris Agreement on his first day back, the process takes a year.
In the meantime, his administration could revise or simply ignore the US NDC — the voluntary pledge underpinning Washington’s climate commitments to the United Nations.
By AFP
December 19, 2024
US President Joe Biden speaks on Earth Day at Prince William Forest Park on April 22, 2024 in Triangle, Virginia
- Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File Andrew Harnik
Issam AHMED
President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday unveiled a new climate target under the landmark Paris accord, just weeks before Donald Trump’s return to the White House threatens to upend US efforts to combat global warming.
According to a White House Statement, the United States commits to reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 61-66 percent below 2005 levels by 2035, reflecting the world’s second-largest polluter’s goal of limiting long-term heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“I’m proud that my administration is carrying out the boldest climate agenda in American history,” Biden said in a video statement hailing the new measures, aimed at keeping the United States on the path to net zero emissions by 2050.
“We will turn this existential threat into a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our nation for generations to come.”
But his climate legacy hangs in the balance, with Trump’s second term expected to bring sweeping rollbacks of environmental protections and a retreat from international commitments, including the Paris agreement, mirroring his first term.
“In his first term, President Trump advanced conservation and environmental stewardship while promoting economic growth for families,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AFP.
She added Trump’s policies “produced affordable, reliable energy for consumers along with stable, high-paying jobs” and vowed that his second term “will once again deliver clean air and water for American families while Making America Wealthy Again.”
– States and businesses to the rescue?
In a call with reporters, Biden’s global climate envoy John Podesta acknowledged that while Trump “may put climate action on the back burner,” he remained confident in the private sector and state and local governments to drive progress.
“That’s not wishful thinking — it’s happened before,” he stressed.
Environmental groups broadly welcomed the new targets, which were due before a deadline in February and include a commitment to reduce emissions of super polluting methane by 35 percent by 2035.
“This provides an important rallying point and benchmark for forward-looking states, cities, and businesses that understand addressing climate change is good for the economy,” Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists told AFP.
“Even though the Trump administration may not lift a finger to deliver on this plan, it sets a north star for what the US should be aiming for,” added Debbie Weyl of the World Resources Institute.
– Bold record, with caveats –
Biden’s administration arguably pursued the most ambitious climate agendas in US history, marked by rejoining the Paris agreement, passing the Inflation Reduction Act with record clean energy investments, and committing to protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030.
Yet critics point to the contradiction of the US maintaining its status as the world’s largest fossil fuel producer, complicating efforts to lead on global climate action.
While China is the world’s largest emitter, the United States remains the largest historic polluter, amplifying its responsibility to address the climate crisis, environmentalists argue.
Despite progress, the US remains off-track to meet its current 2030 target of reducing emissions by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels.
A recent report by the independent Rhodium Group said the United States was on track to achieve only a 32-43 percent reduction by 2030, though a senior Biden administration official said their own estimate “now reaches up to 45-46 percent.”
Meanwhile, the European Union — the world’s fourth largest emitter — is debating a 90 percent reduction by 2040 over 1990 levels, but will likely miss a February UN deadline to file its revised climate roadmap.
Neil Makaroff, an analyst at the Strategic Perspectives think tank specializing in climate transition, said the European Union is “behind schedule” in presenting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and is “unlikely to fit into the UN timetable”.
Market trends and falling renewable energy costs may limit backsliding under Trump, but Cleetus cautioned against complacency, highlighting concerns about fossil fuel expansion.
“Regardless of the politics, the science and what’s happening in the world are very clear,” she said, noting that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record as climate catastrophes mount.
Even if Trump withdraws the United States from the Paris Agreement on his first day back, the process takes a year.
In the meantime, his administration could revise or simply ignore the US NDC — the voluntary pledge underpinning Washington’s climate commitments to the United Nations.
By Felicity Bradstock - Dec 18, 2024
The Biden administration is rapidly approving green energy loans to solidify progress on the U.S. green transition before Trump's inauguration.
Trump has vowed to cut spending on renewable energy and boost fossil fuel production, putting green initiatives at risk.
The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office is working to finalize as many loans as possible, but faces criticism for the rushed process.
Following the recent election of Donald Trump as the next president of the U.S., the Biden administration is racing to approve huge quantities of green funding to ensure the U.S. gets the best chance possible at a green transition. The Biden government’s far-reaching climate policy, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), is under threat as President-elect Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut spending on renewable energy and clean tech in favour of greater fossil fuel production. The government is, therefore, racing to advance clean energy before Trump’s inauguration in January.
The Loan Programs Office at the Department of Energy (DoE) is working to finalise as many loans as possible before the change of government in January, as its future looks uncertain. During Biden’s leadership, the office announced around $54 billion in loans or loan guarantees, which is just a small portion of its total lending power, for projects such as the Rivian electric car factory in Georgia and a massive power line in the Midwest. However, the office has closed just $13.5 billion of the deals to date.
Kennedy Nickerson, a former policy adviser to the loan programs office, stated, “They see the writing on the wall… They want to get out as much money as possible just to safeguard as much progress as they can.”
Companies expecting a payout from the Loan Office are now worried that loans could be delayed or stopped under the new Trump administration. In addition to losing out on critical funds and threats to the advancement of the U.S. green transition, some company leaders believe that if their projects are delayed it leaves space for China to move ahead, which could be detrimental to U.S. geopolitical aims.
he passing of the IRA in 2022, the Loan Programs Office was made responsible for the distributin of up to $400 million in funding. The office, which was established in 2009, has input from thousands of experts at the DoE, making it better prepared to assess green energy and clean tech projects than most commercial banks.
Since Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, the office has approved $34 billion in loans for the electric vehicle (EV) and battery industries, aiming to counter China’s dominance in the global market. Funds have been awarded to battery manufacturers and automakers, to strengthen domestic EV and battery supply chains. It has also provided financing for several novel technologies to drive innovation that could help advance the U.S. green transition.
The office is now racing to finalise various funding decisions for fear that Trump may attempt to halt green spending once in office. In his July Party Platform, Trump stated his intention to DRILL, BABY, DRILL.” He said, “We will become Energy Independent, and even Dominant again. The United States has more liquid gold under our feet than any other Nation, and it’s not even close. The Republican Party will harness that potential to power our future.”
During his first term in office, Trump rolled back over 100 environmental rules and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, which it had joined in 2015. He also sought to establish more opportunities for new drilling on federal land and offshore drilling.
Trump has been adamant about his intention to halt programmes and funding from the IRA. “My plan will terminate the Green New Deal, which I call the Green New Scam. Greatest scam in history, probably,” Trump said in a September speech. He also stated plans to overturn Biden administration regulations on vehicles, power plants, and household appliances.
The rush to approve funds has been criticised by the opposition in recent weeks. A letter from three House Republicans addressed to the head of the Loan Programs Office, Jigar Shah, stated, “The last-minute drive to expedite loans exposes the federal government — and American taxpayers — to tremendous risk.”
Shah responded by saying, “Our process remains the same… We continue to do everything with a fine-toothed comb. But right now, borrowers are sufficiently motivated to move more quickly.”
The rush to finalise funding decisions started even before the November presidential election when the office recognised the potential shift in policy approach. In October, Katie Harris with BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of union and environmental groups, stated, “The Biden-Harris administration is trying to get this money out the door and get it fully obligated.” Harris added, “It’s quite the undertaking.”
By early September, $61 billion in climate funding had been awarded across several government departments, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, with much of it allocated this year. This figure does not include the significant tax credits that have been awarded.
While it will be impossible to complete all the pending loans under the Loan Programs Office and other government agencies, the Biden administration is making a clear effort to distribute the funding as quickly as the bureaucratic process will allow to ensure that the U.S. is given the best possible chance at a green transition.
By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com
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