US President Joe Biden wears a face mask as he talks about the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the White House in Washington, January 26, 2021.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Joe Biden on Wednesday will sign several executive orders to tackle climate change and transfer the country to a clean energy economy, the White House said on Wednesday.
The executive actions include establishing climate change as a national security priority, preserving at least 30% of federal land and oceans by 2030 and canceling new oil and gas leases on public lands and waters, according to a survey by the orders issued by the government.
Biden’s executive agenda will also focus on creating green jobs and trade union opportunities, as well as environmental justice for communities affected disproportionately by climate change.
The government has said climate action will build modern and sustainable infrastructure while restoring scientific integrity in the federal government. The orders advance the president’s agenda to reduce carbon emissions from the electricity sector by 2035 and achieve net emissions by 2050.
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Biden, who manned a historic number of climate experts in the White House, last week signed an order to rejoin the US in the Paris climate agreement, an important agreement between countries to limit their emissions. He also canceled the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the US
The president plans to make comments and to sign the orders by 1:30 p.m. Biden’s special climate envoy John Kerry and national climate adviser Gina McCarthy will brief reporters on the government’s plans.
The Biden administration will also convene a summit on climate leaders on April 22, which will meet world leaders to discuss climate change issues. The peak is likely to be remote during the coronavirus pandemic.