Climate Memo Mondays #9
Breaking -- the dawn of a new climate era
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4:34
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Dick,
Look,
no Sharpie! Just now President Joe Biden signed a series of executive
orders prioritizing climate. And instead of using a Sharpie to make up
facts, he marshalled scientific reality. Together the orders mark a dawn of a
new era in which climate gets prioritized by our President.
Now it’s our job to hold him -- and Congress --
accountable.
The
executive orders, in a nutshell:
· A pause on new oil and gas
leasing on public lands and offshore waters. The pause does not affect existing
leases, nor coal.
· A new Climate Conservation
Corps
· A buying order to convert
all federally owned vehicles -- including the Postal Service -- to electric
vehicles
· An environmental justice advisory
council
· Another council of advisors
on science and technology
· An Earth Day summit
· A directive to end fossil
fuel subsidies
· Yet more councils, advisory
panels, and task forces on climate
Of
course Republicans are screaming, ostensibly on behalf of workers -- the same
workers whose clamor for a $15/ hour minimum wage cannot be heard by Republican
lawmakers’ ears.
All
this puts Biden off to a good start. And yet we have so much work to
do, together -- both to ensure these promises come to fruition, and to build on
this start. The filibuster seems cemented in place, so climate bills must
be passed by skillful maneuvering and massive public pressure. State
legislatures may sabotage federal work. Senators still vow to oppose Deb Haaland
and other good nominees. The courts could wreak havoc. There’s lots of work to
be done, and we intend to be there. But we need your help.
Your
fellow climate hawk (still nesting at home),
RL
Miller
References:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/27/biden-climate-prders-energy-463051
Climate
Hawks Vote
PO Box 141, Agoura Hills, CA 91376-0141
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