USA: New debates flare up over presidential climate emergency declaration

Posted on by Mik Aidt

“White House officials have renewed discussions about potentially declaring a national climate emergency, an unprecedented step that could unlock federal powers to stifle oil development,” reported Bloomberg on 18 April 2024.

In the following days, several other American media outlets and social media commentators suggested that President Joe Biden is once again considering declaring a national climate emergency using either the National Emergencies Act or the Stafford Act, or both.

Reportedly, the step is being contemplated as a response to growing pressures from climate activists and some members of Congress who are frustrated with the legislative gridlock on climate action.

Declaring a climate emergency could represent a substantial shift in policy and a bold use of executive power aimed at addressing the climate crisis more aggressively.

If President Biden were to declare a ‘national climate emergency’ under the National Emergencies Act, it would unlock several presidential powers not normally available. These could include actions like halting crude oil exports, suspending offshore oil and gas drilling, and ordering the construction of renewable energy systems in climate-vulnerable communities.

Additionally, the Defense Production Act could be leveraged to boost the production of clean energy technologies, similar to its use during the COVID-19 pandemic for vaccine production.

(Note: Using a National Emergencies Act or a war-time act is not what the global campaign for governments to declare a climate emergency, including this website, has been advocating for.)


Objections and criticism
A Fox News news anchor called the emergency powers ‘dictatorial powers’ and a ‘power grab’, referring to an older NBC News report that if Joe Biden were to do this, he would “gain an estimated 130 wartime-like powers”.

Social media commentators were quick to ask: “Are you getting ready for Climate Lockdowns?”

Others pointed at that a national emergency declaration could face significant political and legal challenges. It might prompt lawsuits from fossil fuel companies, and it obviously would face fierce opposition from Republican lawmakers.

The environmental policy changes could also be subject to judicial review, and given the current composition of the Supreme Court, there’s uncertainty about the extent to which they would uphold these emergency measures​.

Moreover, even within the White House administration, there’s an inherent conflict as the government has continued to support some fossil fuel projects over the past year​.

An editorial in The Washington Times noted that since researchers at the Military University of Technology in Poland have found that there’s no need to worry about further carbon-dioxide emissions causing temperature changes, apocalyptic climate emergency predictions are only used as “a battering ram to bypass representative government to impose radical and unpopular schemes.”

 

Media and social media coverage

 

 

→ Bloomberg – 18 April 2024:
White House Renews Internal Talks on Invoking Climate Emergency
“Youth activists push Biden for move ahead of November election. Emergency proclamation could be used to halt exports, drilling.”

→ CBS News – 24 April 2024:
White House considering national climate emergency declaration
“The White House is considering declaring a national climate emergency to unlock federal powers and stifle oil development, according to a Bloomberg report. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is announcing several projects this Earth Week. Columbia University Climate School professor Dr. Melissa Lott joins with analysis.”

→ Vigilant News / The Gateway Pundit – 24 April 2024:
Fascism: Biden Wants to Give Himself “COVID-Like” Powers by Declaring a Climate Emergency
“This should send chills down the spine of any American who values liberty.”

→ The Washington Times – 26 April 2024:
Biden considers declaring a ‘climate emergency’ to limit affordable energy
“An emergency declaration could unlock the powers required to implement an unpopular energy policy without the inconvenience of seeking congressional approval.” Commentary by Editorial Board

→ Forbes – 28 April 2024:
Biden’s Climate Emergency: Green Policies On Steroids?
“President Biden—and his handlers—are aiming to save his chances for the November election by appealing to the youth convinced of the climate apocalypse and the leftist billionaires who can’t seem to throw enough money for the cause.”

 













 

Petitions

President Biden: It’s about damn time. Declare a climate emergency
“President Biden – It’s not too late, and none too early to declare a climate emergency. Do it for the climate. Do it for the politics. Just do it.”
2,887 signatures collected on 1 May 2024
www.actionnetwork.org/petitions/president-biden-its-about-damn-time-declare-a-climate-emergency

Biden: Declare a climate emergency
Unleash the full power of the presidency to expand clean energy production and boost green, good-paying jobs that benefit the working class and people of color facing the worst of the climate crisis. Halt new fossil fuel development, prosecute fossil fuel companies and other polluters for their role in creating the climate crisis and misleading the public, and ban crude oil and gas exports.
Add your name to call on President Biden to declare a climate emergency now.
50,861 supporters on 1 May 2024
www.climateemergencypetition.com

 

USA: Multiple calls on President Biden to declare a climate emergency