President-elect Joe Biden has selected a highly-qualified and diverse group of leaders who will be responsible for setting the agenda and advancing climate action across his administration. This group includes: Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture; Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality; Jennifer Granholm, Department of Energy; Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency; Deb Haaland, Department of Interior; and Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation. In addition to the cabinet selections, President-elect Biden named Gina McCarthy as the National Climate Advisor and Ali Zaidi as Deputy National Climate Advisor. These announcements come on the heels of earlier appointments including John Kerry, Tony Blinken, Janet Yellen, and Brian Deese, together rounding out an impressive group, who will put climate change at the center of the Administration’s domestic and international agenda.
Following is a statement from Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute:
“When President-elect Biden said he would make climate change a priority, he wasn’t messing around. He is bringing together a remarkable team with deep expertise and experience who can implement climate policy across the whole of the federal government. This team also brings a remarkable diversity of backgrounds reflecting the diversity of people across the country.
“The Biden team is clearly rejecting the outdated notion that climate action and economic vitality are at odds with each other. On the contrary, smart climate action is absolutely critical to jobs, equity, and human well-being. At WRI, we look forward to working with this serious and highly-regarded team to help unlock a new era of innovation and economic opportunities, as we push to for deep emissions reductions in line with science.”
Following is a statement from Dan Lashof, Director of WRI United States:
“After four years of President Trump driving the United States backward on climate action, the Biden-Harris administration is poised to spring forward on action that the climate crisis demands.
“This team of climate champions will be led by Gina McCarthy, in the new position of National Climate advisor, who has the experience and passion to effectively coordinate the government’s response across agencies and departments. We are also thrilled to see such a diverse group that will pay particular attention to communities of color who are disproportionately affected by climate change and have been too often marginalized in policy making.
“It’s also exciting to see so many nominees with experience leading at the state and local levels, which is in line with WRI’s Climate Federalism approach. This group will ensure that the Biden administration builds on the leadership we’ve seen across US states and cities, which will be critical to jump-start a new economy that is low-carbon, creates jobs, and supports a just transition for all.”
Source: wri.org
