in the scorching heat union status presidential greeting joe biden make his case as to why we must return him to the American people White House for second termHe is promoting his own records. economy, immigrationGun Safety and Reproductive Freedom.
But Biden has said little about the climate crisis, which remains a politically divisive issue in the United States despite its growing impact, seeking to appeal to as wide a group as possible.
Here are six takeaways about climate change. Sotu night.
glance at references
The word “climate” was mentioned a total of five times during SOTU. But Biden was quick to draw a line between his own position and the MAGA position of the Republican Party, especially its supporters. Donald Trump.
„We are also making history by confronting the climate crisis, rather than denying it,“ he said.
Biden referred to the „climate crisis“ rather than climate change, emphasizing the seriousness of the global problem he had previously called an „existential threat.“
record breaking
Biden called his actions on the climate crisis „the most important in the history of the world.“
The administration's Inflation Control Act would pump nearly $400 billion into renewable energy across states, and the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Act would update America's aging roads, bridges, and tunnels and add more abnormalities. We are trying to adapt to a future of rising weather and sea levels. . But when it comes to the most important action, it depends on how you look at it. In terms of renewable energy growth, the United States is trailing China, which is building capacity at a pace unmatched by any other country.
And because of its population size, solar and wind power still play an important role. It accounts for 20% of the electricity generation in the United States.
Other countries have larger populations and a higher share of solar and wind in their national electricity mix. World Resources Institute points out, as in Spain (33 percent), Germany (32 percent) and the United Kingdom (29 percent). However, these three countries experienced growth over a longer period of time than the United States.
emissions reduction
Biden touted his record on reducing domestic carbon emissions. “We will cut our carbon emissions in half by 2030,” he said. But to achieve this goal, he will need to increase his ambition, according to a new study.
Greenhouse gas emissions are declining in the United States, but not at the rate needed to cut emissions in half (from 2005 levels) by 2030. Independent research firm Rhodium Group reported in January that, if nothing else changes, the country is on track to decline by about 40 percent by the end of 2020.
crowd pleaser
The president focused on accomplishments that would please voters by all persuasions. Conserve 30 percent of America's land and waters by 2030. and to take action against „fenceline'' communities „obscured by the legacy of pollution'' from the oil and gas industry, chemical factories, and industrial agriculture.
The president also mentioned the Climate Corps, modeled after FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps, which places 20,000 young people in clean energy jobs. Biden has promised to triple that number over the next decade.
notable omission
President Biden has avoided more progressive climate change measures taken by his administration, such as a moratorium on all new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities.
The decision was a flashpoint for Republicans, but also displeased many climate change advocates who don't think it goes far enough. The United States is the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas; It produces more oil than any other country in history.
Climate action by any other name
Although SOTU made few mentions of the climate, they spoke more about the economy and jobs. But even if Biden doesn't say much, many of the policies he's touted are tied to tackling America's carbon emissions problem. He cited tens of thousands of clean energy jobs created by his administration, including unionized workers „building and installing 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations.“
Many of the 800,000 new manufacturing jobs Biden mentioned are in clean energy and battery storage.