Over the last four years, the Trump administration has weakened environmental protections, promoted climate denialism, and obstructed greenhouse gas reduction. This blatant disregard for the environment can be observed through the replacement of the National Ocean Policy, his refusal to sign the G7 ocean plastics charter, and his infamous withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.

On January 20th, 2021, a new president stepped into the Oval Office. Will Joe Biden continue Trump’s legacy of climate denialism and environmental inaction, or will he repeal the environmentally destructive decisions made under the Trump administration? Let's take a look at his promises and actions so far.

Rejoining the Paris Climate accord

Throughout the Biden-Harris campaign, Joe Biden promised to undo the Trump admin’s choice to formally leave the Paris agreement, thus pledging to officially rejoin it on his first day in office. Keeping his promise, President Biden signed an executive order that formally re-entered the USA into the global climate change agreement on his first day in office.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Under President Trump the NOAA had, for the first time in its history, no senate-confirmed administrator for the duration of an entire presidential term. The disregard for this vital body is not expected to continue under the new administration, and a transition team memo obtained by the Washington Post listed “re-establishing the central role of climate change in everything the NOAA does.” That’s good news for the ocean!

Clean Energy

The comprehensive climate policy laid out within the Biden-Harris campaign website spends a lot of time talking about the administration's approach to clean energy. Biden has expressed a desire to lead America towards being the world’s clean energy superpower, and ensuring that the US achieves a 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. He also demands that congress enacts legislation in his first year to establish an enforcement mechanism for some of his first term energy targets. Clean energy and a carbon free atmosphere is vital to protecting the ocean from warming and acidification.

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3 Ways A Biden Presidency Is Good News For Our Oceans