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CNN’s Sam Ricketts said, “It is time to go faster.” He was co-founder and director of Evergreen Action’s climate group. “Federal agencies must be more aggressive and climate-oriented that they have ever been before,” Ricketts said to CNN.
Ricketts stated that CNN Evergreen isn’t pushing for more executive action in place of Congressional action. They want both. Their report states that multiple analyses have shown that executive action will be required to supplement these investments if the US wants to achieve the 2030 goal.
Ricketts stated that “the job isn’t over; failure is not an option.”
Evergreen isn’t the only one applying pressure ahead of the State of the Union.
Lori Lodes, executive Director of Climate Power, stated that “it’s just connecting people the dots.” “We have a very limited window if you want to reduce emissions as much as possible. It’s currently the cheapest source of energy due to all the advances in clean technology. It’s going to become cheaper if we invest in them.
2022 is a decisive Year
Biden started his presidency promising to address the climate crisis.
Climate groups haven’t been able to get the major legislation they truly want.
Climate advocates are starting to get nervous as the clock ticks down for the 2022 midterms.
“Where we are now as a climate movement, I would say, is feeling pretty panicked,” Christy Goldfuss said to CNN. She is the senior vice president for Energy and Environment Policy at Center for American Progress.
CNN spoke with many advocates who agreed that strong administrative action is important. Goldfuss and other advocates stressed the importance of Congress passing significant investments in clean electricity, including $320 million worth of clean tax credits in Biden’s bill. This would help pave way for regulation. They stated that Biden’s infrastructure bill is only a start.
Ryan Fitzpatrick from Third Way, director of Climate and Energy Program at center left think tank Third Way, stated that Build Back Better’s climate pledges are “also going to help average household and business in terms of their bottom line.” “We must make sure that we implement the second part.”
Goldfuss said, “We need to see Congress and the White House make the case that renewables are a viable option to combat the fluctuations in fossil fuels every decade.” “What we are seeing is how important climate investments in driving down energy costs.
Another potential roadblock for the administration is the courts. Biden’s climate initiatives have been blocked by Republican attorneys general. The administration is currently facing a major US Supreme Court case regarding power plant emissions regulations. This even though it has not yet implemented its own power plants rules.
Ricketts stated that even though the legal landscape is difficult, Biden’s agencies should continue to take bold steps to reduce carbon emissions.
Ricketts stated that the administration can only do what it can do. They can’t and shouldn’t anticipate future roadblocks, and use them as excuses to not do something. They have to use every tool that they have.”
