CATF supports President Biden’s focus on importance of bipartisan consensus to advance climate action in State of the Union
WASHINGTON – President Biden delivered the State of the Union address last night, highlighting the importance of and potential for policymakers to work across the aisle to continue advancing climate action in a newly divided government – implementing the historic pieces of climate legislation passed over the last two years while advancing new policies and strong regulations to complement them.
“We were encouraged to hear President Biden’s emphasis on bipartisan policymaking, which makes durable climate progress possible,” says Conrad Schneider, Senior Director, U.S. of Clean Air Task Force. “In recent years, the U.S. has taken tremendous strides forward by passing climate and clean energy legislation under a variety of political configurations – oftentimes by recognizing the need for a diverse portfolio of climate solutions that work within the economic and political realities. These critical pieces of legislation provide proof positive that we can find paths to consensus by focusing on where Americans agree: the importance of reducing air pollution, promoting innovation and technology leadership, building out our infrastructure, creating jobs, and driving local economic growth across the country while keeping the U.S. competitive in an evolving global energy landscape.
“And while the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act was historic, we must understand these successes as the starting gun, not the finish line, in the race to a clean energy future. The U.S. has a long way to go to achieve its climate targets under the Paris Agreement, and implementing this legislation effectively and quickly can get us much – but not all – of the way there. Over the next two years, the Biden administration must also advance rules and regulations that complement the incentives in these historic policies. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering a suite of emissions standards for power plants, vehicles, and methane from oil and gas. These standards are long overdue and must be released and finalized with the most stringent requirements possible to mitigate air pollution, protect public health and the environment, and spur innovation across the U.S.
“We commend President Biden’s commitment to highlighting bipartisan action to address climate change, protect the environment and public health, and lead on clean energy innovation – and we urge his administration to move expeditiously to implement federal climate policy and finalize strong regulations that together will promote U.S. global competitiveness, improve air quality, drive economic growth, and support the United States’ decarbonization goals.”
Press Contact
Samantha Sadowski, Communications Manager, U.S., ssadowski@catf.us, +1 202-440-1717
About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
