DURING HIS victory speech, US President-elect Joe Biden announced that climate change would be one of his top priorities, adding that Americans must “marshal the forces of science in the battle to save our planet”. He has vowed to rejoin the landmark the Paris Agreement as soon as he assumes office. In fact, in June last year, Biden had said that he had plans for a $1.7 trillion investment in a green recovery, which would reduce US emissions by about 75 gigatonnes over the next 30 years.
Biden has also said he would stop leasing any new oil and gas rights on federal land and water. He could also direct agencies to tighten emissions standards for the electricity sector, to push it toward his goal of net zero emissions. And he could raise fuel economy standards for cars and trucks to speed up a transition to electric vehicles (see ‘Biden will restore climate change and climate policy’, p27) .
But a 1800 turnaround on environment and climate change issues for the US will not be easy for Biden, post-Trump. First, any push for climate action will require Democrats take control of the US Senate. Second, in the four years he was president, Donald Trump relaxed more than 150 climate-friendly regulations—tailpipe emissions, endangered wildlife and rainforest protection among others—and this will take considerable time for Biden to undo the damage.
Third, fracking—hydraulic fracturing in the shale formation to release gas—is a contentious issue. It is opposed by climate advocates for the volume of water and toxic chemicals consumed by the process and the contamination threat to drinking water sources. But Biden has historically been known for his deep involvement in the shale oil boom during the Obama years. So we can expect little action from Biden on banning fracking.
Denne historien er fra November 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra November 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara