U.S. President Biden is considering declaring a national climate emergency as soon as this week, the Washington Post newspaper said on Tuesday, citing sources.
The move came after two U.S. Senate Democrats urged Biden to declare a climate emergency and use the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of a wide range of renewable energy products and systems, including solar panels. (via Reuters) [bold, links added]
Background:
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jeff Merkley, speaking days after an effort to advance climate legislation failed in the Senate, also called on Biden to use the White House “bully pulpit” to draw attention to climate-related crises in the United States.
“It is time for the Biden administration to pivot to a very aggressive climate strategy,” Merkley said.
Biden said last week that he would take unspecified steps to reduce climate emissions after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin withdrew support for climate legislation that Democrats had hoped to pass before Congress leaves Washington for its August recess.
In the evenly divided Senate, Manchin’s support was critical for the passage of the legislation, which lacked any Republican backing.
Manchin and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer had been in talks about $300 billion in tax credits for industries including solar and wind power, carbon capture from power plants, and nuclear power, which generates virtually emissions-free electricity.
Whitehouse said he spoke to the White House about the need to move forward with aggressive executive action, but shared no details.
“I’ve talked to the White House about going on offense and being aggressive and doing all the things that it is within the executive powers to do that have not so far been done,” he said.
There’s a lot the Biden administration could be doing on climate change:
1. A robust social cost of carbon rule with broad reach.
2. Require carbon capture from all major emitters.
3. Stricter limits on co-pollutants from coal- and gas-fired power plants— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) July 1, 2022
Whitehouse said the conversation tracked his public call for initiatives ranging from tighter carbon regulations for vehicles and power plants to carbon border tariffs and potential federal litigation against the fossil fuel industry.
It was not clear, however, how far the White House could go, after the Supreme Court last month effectively restricted the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing emissions rules involving matters of major “economic and political significance.”
Read more at Yahoo News
When Mr. Biden issues his “emergency” declaration,
what if all Americans would just laugh at him?
And the lying PIG deserves it!
One other constructive suggestion. Perhaps a memo to the Chinese Communist Party to alert THEM, along with India & select (other) Asian nations that the “Climate Emergency” is GAME ON! Mean while, with the coal fired electric generation the CCP will build in the next couple years, that CO2 output will totally NEGATE all the U.S emissions reductions over the past 15-20 years. Getting the picture here?
Well, if the folks currently in power would promote some SENSIBLE legislation, perhaps they could GET the requisite votes through reconciliation. Where is the panic? Where is the EVIDENCE of a “Climate Crisis?” If the FACTS supported your position, you’d be EAGER to debate the climate science & make your case to the American electorate. So, if we can’t “back door” legislation, then we will just circumvent the lawful process through Executive fiat? When that gets challenged in the courts, we will just (merely) suggest abolishment or restructuring of SCOTUS? If I didn’t know any better, seems like a bunch of SPOILED BRATS throwing a “tantrum” because they cannot INVOKE THEIR WILL on society. Hopefully, the voters won’t get “suckered” with all the distractions & deflections (abortion, climate crisis, social experimentation) and stay FOCUSED on the REAL domestic crises. For example, like inflation, probable economic recession, wrenched energy policy, border mayhem, crime, etc. Those old fashioned “kitchen table” & café conversations that MATTER to the vast majority of the U.S population. At this stage, any size of “Red Wave” can’t be big or profound enough to “sweep out” this insanity…