The White House is expected to announce Wednesday a host of actions advancing President Biden’s climate goals, a policy area the commander-in-chief has pledged to prioritize.
A document obtained by The Hill describes Wednesday’s actions as a climate-themed day that will incorporate a series of actions including an executive order that “initiates a series of regulatory actions to combat climate change domestically and elevates climate change as a national security priority.”
Also expected are actions directing science-based decision making at federal agencies and reestablishing a presidential council of science and technology advisers, as well as announcing data for a Climate Leaders Summit.
The administration is also expected to take aim at fossil fuel leasing on public lands and further conservation efforts.
The New York Times reported this week that Biden will instruct the government to conserve 30 percent of federal lands and waters by 2030. He’ll also start a task force to create a plan to reduce emissions and put forth a memo calling climate change a national security priority, according to the newspaper.
The Times also reported that Biden will tell the government to evaluate the scope of a potential ban on new oil and gas leasing on federal land, while Bloomberg reported last week that Biden would halt the sale of oil, gas and coal leases on federal lands.
Bloomberg reported that the pause will be longer than a previously announced 60-day moratorium on new federal leases for oil, gas, and coal.
On the campaign trail, Biden indicated that he would eventually pursue a total ban on new oil and gas permits on federal lands and waters.
The president has also stressed that he will make climate change one of his priorities. On his first day in office he signed orders to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and revoked a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the reported details of Wednesday’s actions.
