Sen. The potential move comes days after Joe Manchin III (DW.Va.) told Democratic leaders He did not support his party’s efforts A broad economic package involving billions of dollars to address global warming is to be advanced this month. In the event of an emergency, it would empower the Biden administration to cut carbon emissions and develop clean energy.
Two people familiar with the discussions also said they expect the president to announce additional steps aimed at curbing planet-warming emissions. The exact purpose and timing of any announcements remains in flux.
“The president made it clear that if the Senate doesn’t act to address the climate crisis and strengthen our domestic clean energy sector, he will,” a White House official said in a statement late Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the discussions. “We are considering all options and no decision has been made.”
Jared Bernstein, the White House’s top economic adviser, told reporters at a news conference earlier in the day that Biden would “fight aggressively to attack climate change.”
“I think realistically he can do a lot, and he will do a lot,” Bernstein said.
Biden’s top aides are debating the best course of action Another punishing heat wave A similar weather pattern has descended on Central America this week Temperatures break records across Europe. As hopes for congressional action fade, many Democrats have called in recent days to use the White House’s powers to address global warming.
“This is an important moment. “Nothing is more important to our country and our world than for America to make a bold, dynamic transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in its energy economy,” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) told reporters Monday.
Citing the impasse, Merkley added: “It frees the president from waiting for Congress to act.”
Days after the president’s inauguration last year, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. If Schumer (DNY) wants to declare a climate emergency, it’s unclear how Biden plans to proceed.
Some climate activists have urged the White House to issue an emergency declaration in recent months maximum effectIt argues that it would allow the president to freeze crude oil exports, limit oil and gas drilling in federal waters, and direct agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to increase renewable-energy sources.
But the president faces a difficult balancing act as he seeks to calibrate his response to a warming planet with the recent economic reality of high gas prices. Policies may help Biden Cut US emissions in half by the end of the decade Compared to 2005 levels, they are still below what Biden aimed to accomplish through his previous economic plan, known as Build Back Better.
Any new climate-related executive action could face a formidable court challenge, which could affect the future of environmental regulations. Last month, the Supreme Court reduced the central government’s order Powers to limit carbon emissions of power plants.
The President himself Last week raised the prospect of executive action on climate change, as talks broke down between Democratic leaders and Manchin over what would be the largest infusion of climate-related spending in US history.
Initially, Democrats hoped to spend more than $500 billion in new programs to cut emissions and support new technologies, including electric vehicles. The West Virginian’s opposition is politically dangerous because party lawmakers need his vote to advance any bill using a process known as compromise — a trick that allows Democrats to avoid a GOP filibuster in the narrowly divided chamber.
Democrats quickly began revising their plans, eyeing what would have been $300 billion in climate-focused investments in an effort to appease Manchin. But the moderate senator representing the coal-rich state said last week that he could not support his party’s efforts to advance such spending this month amid record-high inflation.
Manchin later expressed an openness to tackling climate change, but said he would do so only after looking at another round of indicators next month. But many Democrats said they didn’t want to take the risk, leaving them with no choice but to drop their plans entirely — and focus their attention on the health care plans that Manchin supports.
Others called for another round of engagement with the senator, citing the fact that executive action alone would not be enough.
Sen., who chairs the tax-focused Senate Finance Committee. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), in a statement Monday, said lawmakers should at least renew tax credits that boost clean technology.
“While I strongly support additional executive action by President Biden, we know that the flood of Republican lawsuits will continue,” Wyden said. “Law continues to be the best option here. The climate crisis is the issue of our time and we must keep our options open.
Dino Grandoni contributed to this report.
