
Democrats in Congress Hold the Fate of the Planet in Their Slippery Hands
The Democrats must quickly pass the Infrastructure Bill and compromise on reconciliation. There is no time to spare.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris enter office with a long list of substantial challenges to tackle. Working together with Congress, they will need to pull the country out of the worst pandemic in a century. They will need to get the economy back up and running, take bold moves to limit climate change and environmental destruction, and work hard to begin correcting hundreds of years of racial injustice and inequality.
Scholars within the Columbia Climate School will be holding the administration accountable to these promises. The articles and opinion pieces below range in scope from suggesting top priorities and strategies for the administration, to evaluating plans and progress, and pointing out areas where there’s room for improvement. This work is crucial, as the successes and failures of the Biden presidency will impact the health of the American people and the planet for years and decades to come.
The Democrats must quickly pass the Infrastructure Bill and compromise on reconciliation. There is no time to spare.
President Biden’s actions last week represented an implicit understanding of this nation’s global social responsibility.
The environmental catastrophe predicted by climate modelers a generation ago is upon us. We need to provide the resources and organizational capacity required to end most use of fossil fuels as fast as possible.
Provisions that allow investors to sue countries are being used to undermine climate goals. The latest example: A $15 billion lawsuit from the Keystone XL energy company.
We have an American president who understands the climate crisis, and both the grave threat and historic opportunity it presents.
The threats to our security are real and require a rational and strategic response. Let’s hope we can produce one.
We should also be ready for a time when hands can be shaken and hugs can be given, and our tactile, social species is able once again to exhale.
Joe Biden is providing America with inspiring and strategic climate and economic leadership.
A variety of changes could be put in place to reduce methane emissions.
As the president’s April 22 climate summit draws near, the federal action plan should focus on the enormous opportunities for emissions reductions in the food system.