Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday revoked a series of Trump administration orders that promoted fossil fuel development on public lands and waters, and issued a separate directive that prioritizes climate change in agency decisions. The moves are part of a government-wide effort by the Biden administration to address climate change ahead of a virtual global summit on climate change that President Joe Biden is hosting next week. “From day one, President Biden was clear that we must take a whole-of-government approach to tackle the climate crisis, strengthen the economy and address environmental justice,” Haaland said in a statement. The new orders will “make our communities more resilient to climate change and … help lead the transition to a clean energy economy,″ she added.
apnews.com
These orders covered federal land where leases involved coal, gas and oil leases previously approved but put on hold early in the Biden administration. The action also rescinded expanding drilling in the Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.
Haaland called the orders by her predecessors, Ryan Zinke and David Bernhardt, “inconsistent with the department’s commitment to protect public health; conserve land, water, and wildlife; and elevate science.″ Collectively, the previous orders “tilted the balance of public land and ocean management without regard for climate change, equity or community engagement,″ Haaland said. The new orders do not affect Interior’s ongoing review of proposals for oil, gas, coal and renewable energy development on public lands and waters, she said.
Environmental groups supported these actions noting that science is now being used in decisions. Also the rights of Indigenous communities as well as wildlife and outdoor recreational uses are considered.
More than 25% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions originate on public lands, and Interior has “unrivaled opportunities to restore natural carbon sinks, responsibly deploy clean energy and reduce existing emissions,″ said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Rescinding the previous administration’s orders that encouraged unfettered drilling in ecologically and culturally sensitive areas and establishing a climate task force will help ensure wise management of our natural resources for people and wildlife alike,″ O’Mara said. One of the orders issued by Haaland cancels a 2017 action that revoked a moratorium on federal coal reserve sales that had been imposed under President Barack Obama to deal with climate change. Agency spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz said Friday’s move does not automatically resurrect the coal moratorium. “Today’s announcement does not take any action on coal development. We are continuing to review an appropriate path going forward,” she said.
Republicans had fought this Obama action calling it a “war on coal”. It had little effect on the industry as many leases were not used.
The American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s top lobbying group, warned that policies aimed at slowing or stopping oil and natural gas production on federal lands and waters could harm national security, environmental progress and the economy. “Banning or greatly hindering federal leasing … would threaten decades of American energy and climate progress and return us to greater reliance on foreign energy with lower environmental standards,″ said Kevin O’Scannlain, an API vice president.
There is a new administration focused on the environment, a major change from the last four years.
