President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Tuesday at the Environmental Protection Agency, which officials said looks to curb the federal government's enforcement of climate regulations by putting American jobs above addressing climate change.
The order represents a clear difference between how Trump and former President Barack Obama view the role the United States plays in combating climate change, and dramatically alters the government's approach to rising sea levels and temperatures -- two impacts of climate change.
Trump said during the signing that the order will "Eliminate federal overreach" and "Start a new era of production and job creation."
"My action today is latest in steps to grow American jobs," Trump added, saying his order is "Ending the theft of prosperity." Ref. CNN.
Even without the clean power plan, US can achieve Paris Agreement emissions reductions. Researchers have calculated that the US can meet -- or even beat -- the near-term carbon dioxide emission reductions required by the United Nations Paris Agreement, despite the Trump Administration's withdrawal of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Source 3h.
Clean Air Act saved 1.5 billion birds. US pollution regulations meant to protect humans from dirty air are also saving birds. So concludes a new continent-wide study. Study authors found that improved air quality under a federal program to reduce ozone pollution may have averted the loss of 1.5 billion birds during the past 40 years. Source 8s.
President Joe Biden will call for a 50% reduction in US greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 at climate summit. Biden will announce the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 52% percent, from a baseline of 2005 emissions, at the start of a virtual climate summit he is hosting with 40 other world leaders on Thursday and Friday, an administration official said. The official did not detail how the White House plans to achieve the 50% reduction. Ref. USAToday.
New SEC rule would require public companies for the first time to disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate change risks. Much as homebuyers are protected by rules requiring a seller to disclose problems, the new SEC rule would allow investors to judge how well or poorly a company is prepared for the future costs of a warming planet. Source 3p.