Executive Order 14008

Executive Order 14008 is a significant directive issued by President Joe Biden on January 27, 2021, early in his administration. Titled "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad," it established addressing climate change as an essential element of United States foreign policy and national security. The order initiated a whole-of-government approach, creating new offices and tasking numerous federal agencies with integrating climate considerations into their work. It represented a major shift from the policies of the preceding Trump administration.

Background and context

The order was signed during a period of increasing scientific consensus on the urgency of climate action, as highlighted by reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It followed the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under Donald Trump, a move that Joe Biden had pledged to reverse. The directive was part of a broader suite of early executive actions, including rejoining the Paris Agreement via Executive Order 13990, aimed at restoring federal leadership on environmental issues. Its framing of climate as a national security matter built upon earlier assessments by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Intelligence Community.

Key provisions

A central provision was the creation of the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, headed by the first White House National Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy. It also established the National Climate Task Force, comprising leaders from across federal departments and agencies. The order mandated a pause on new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and offshore waters, pending a comprehensive review. It introduced the "Justice40 Initiative," which aimed to deliver 40% of overall benefits from certain federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, it directed federal agencies to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels and develop strategies for international climate finance.

Implementation and agencies involved

Implementation was tasked to a wide array of federal entities. The United States Department of the Interior, under Secretary Deb Haaland, was charged with conducting the review of federal leasing programs. The United States Department of State and the United States Department of the Treasury were directed to integrate climate objectives into international diplomacy and finance. The United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency were central to advancing clean energy and regulatory goals. The Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget played key roles in coordinating the Justice40 Initiative and tracking its progress across agencies like the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Domestic and international reactions

Domestically, the order was praised by environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, as well as by advocates for Environmental justice like the NAACP. However, it faced immediate criticism from the American Petroleum Institute and lawmakers from fossil-fuel-producing states like West Virginia and North Dakota, who argued it threatened jobs and energy independence. Internationally, it was welcomed by leaders such as Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission and António Guterres of the United Nations, signaling a recommitment of the United States to global climate diplomacy ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Related policies and subsequent actions

The order served as a foundational framework for subsequent major legislation and initiatives. It paved the way for the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included significant funding for climate resilience and clean energy. Its goals were further advanced by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the largest federal investment in climate action in U.S. history. Related executive actions included Executive Order 14057 on federal sustainability and the creation of the First Movers Coalition at the COP26 summit in Glasgow. The directive also influenced the establishment of the President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) and new climate partnerships with the European Union and nations in the Indo-Pacific.

Category:Executive orders of Joe Biden Category:Climate change in the United States Category:United States federal climate policy