President Biden has announced an ambitious goal for the United States: reducing carbon emissions by two-thirds by 2035, building on his administration’s climate efforts.
The White House released a statement outlining this new target, which aligns with commitments under the Paris Agreement.
“Today, as the United States continues to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, President Biden is announcing a new climate target for the United States: a 61-66 percent reduction in 2035 from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions,” the statement read.
“It keeps the United States on a straight line or steeper path to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, economy-wide, by no later than 2050. In connection with this announcement, the United States is making a formal submission of this new target to the United Nations Climate Change secretariat as its next NDC under the Paris Agreement,” the statement continued.
Biden re-entered the U.S. into the Paris Agreement after his predecessor, President Trump, withdrew from it early in his term. However, Trump has not clarified whether he would seek to exit the agreement again if re-elected.
Reports suggest that Trump and his transition team are preparing to roll back several of Biden’s energy and climate regulations. According to sources cited by The New York Times, Trump plans to implement executive orders and presidential proclamations aimed at reducing regulatory burdens on domestic energy production.
Plans under consideration include appointing an “energy czar” to oversee deregulation efforts and potentially relocating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) headquarters outside of Washington, D.C.
Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt commented on these plans, stating, “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.”
This development underscores the stark contrast between Biden’s climate goals and Trump’s deregulatory approach, signaling continued debate over the future of U.S. climate policy.
