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President-elect’s ambitious climate strategy secures first win as General Motors gives up support for legal battle over emissions standards
President-elect Joe Biden yesterday used a day of important announcements from his transition team to reiterate how climate action will be at the heart of his administration, confirming that John Kerry has been named White House Climate Envoy and publishing plans to put the United States on an “irreversible path to net zero emissions”.
Announcing Kerry’s appointment, Biden stressed that the new role would provide a significant boost to global diplomatic efforts to build on the Paris Agreement and spark a new wave of climate action.
“For the first time ever, the United States will have a full-time climate leader attending ministerial-level meetings – it’s an elegant way of saying it will have a seat at all tables around the world,” Biden said. “For the first time ever, there will be a National Security Council Principal who will make sure climate change is on the agenda in the Situation Room. And for the first time ever, we will have a presidential climate envoy.”
He also confirmed that Kerry’s appointment would be accompanied by a high-level White House climate policy coordinator to lead domestic efforts to accelerate US climate action.
“Let me be clear: I do not underestimate even for a minute the difficulties of keeping my courageous commitments to combat climate change,” added Biden. “But at the same time, no one should underestimate my determination to do just that for a minute.”
He also pointed out that Kerry’s track record as one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, a Secretary of State and former presidential candidate made him exceptionally well qualified to lead US climate diplomacy efforts. “The world will know that one of my closest friends – John Kerry – is speaking for America about one of the most pressing threats of our time.”
Welcoming his appointment, Kerry commended Biden for pledging to immediately return to the Paris Agreement and immediately increased pressure on other nations to strengthen their national climate action plans ahead of the Nations Climate Summit. Unite COP26 in Glasgow next year.
“At the world meeting in Glasgow in a year, all nations must raise ambition together – or we will fail together,” he said. “Failure is not an option.”
Kerry’s appointment prompted the UK government to strengthen its COP26 team by appointing a climate envoy with a similar level of diplomatic experience to Kerry’s. In a leader article this morning, Times he suggested that “the Prime Minister must appoint a climate envoy of similar stature to help ensure what should be his moment of global leadership.”
Meanwhile, Biden’s first wave of nominations was accompanied by the publication of a series of climate policy plans by the president-elect’s transition team.
“At this time of profound crisis, we have the opportunity to build a more resilient and sustainable economy, an economy that will put the United States on an irreversible path to achieving net zero emissions, across the economy, by 2050. “, the plan stated. “Biden is working to seize this opportunity and, in the process, create millions of well-paying jobs that offer workers the choice to join a union and bargain collectively with their employers.”
In particular, the plan committed to stepping up investment in low-carbon infrastructure; create one million jobs in the US auto industry by accelerating the shift to electric vehicles; introduce high-quality, carbon-neutral public transit options to all cities in the United States through flexible federal investments; achieve a carbon-free energy sector by 2035; upgrade four million buildings and weather two million homes in four years, spurring the construction of 1.5 million homes and sustainable housing units.
The team also highlighted the Biden administration’s commitment to intensifying investments in clean technology innovation, creating new jobs through the adoption of climate-friendly farming practices and ensuring that environmental justice informs all investment decisions and development.
Fierce debate is already underway on Capitol Hill over the extent to which Biden can carry out his ambitious climate strategy, given the GOP’s firm opposition to any climate-related legislation in Congress.
However, this week provided a first sign of how the political and investment dynamics surrounding US climate policies are already changing, after General Motors (GM) announced it was withdrawing its support for the legal fight against the US. Trump administration to deny California the right to be more ambitious. emission standards.
In a letter to environmental groups, GM CEO Mary Barra indicated that the company will support the Biden administration’s plans to accelerate the switch to electric vehicles.
“President-elect Biden recently said, ‘I believe we can own the 21st century automotive market again by switching to electric vehicles,'” he wrote. “We at General Motors couldn’t agree more.”
He added that as such the company was “immediately withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation and inviting other car manufacturers to join us.”
Barry Rabe, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, told al New York Times the move could trigger similar steps by other large US companies. “This is as bold as possible,” he said. “This huge pivot, which follows so closely an election result, particularly from a company like General Motors, is a big deal … This is the first major industrial step towards the next president. Other industries will have epiphanies and pivot ? “
In a statement Biden immediately hailed the move as “encouraging news for our economy, our planet, and the long-term success of American auto workers.”
“GM’s decision reinforces how short-sighted the Trump administration’s efforts are to erode American ingenuity and American defenses against the climate threat,” he said. “In addition to advancing our ambitious climate goals, this decision will have a positive ripple effect as our nation strives to outperform our global competitors, create well-paying union jobs here at home, and reclaim our place as a leader in the world. innovation and manufacturing – all of which will be the priorities in my administration.
“Perhaps most importantly, GM’s choice to work with the Biden-Harris administration and California to advance these goals demonstrates a promising path for how industry, labor, government and environmental organizations. they can unite to tackle big problems and make vital progress on behalf of the American people. “
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