The Daily Biden’s Climate Shift
Apr 12, 2022
Coral Davenport, an energy and environmental policy correspondent for The New York Times, delves into President Biden's recent shift from ambitious climate goals to boosting oil and gas production due to the war in Ukraine. The discussion highlights the significant challenges facing Biden's climate initiatives, including stalled regulations and political opposition. Davenport explores the complex balance between addressing immediate energy needs and pursuing long-term clean energy policies, revealing the tough trade-offs at play in current U.S. energy politics.
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Biden's Climate Agenda Stalled
- Biden's climate agenda has been in trouble since early 2022, even before the Ukraine war.
- Three major policy aspects—clean energy tax credits, EPA power plant regulations, and car emission regulations—have stalled due to political and legal challenges.
De-Emphasis on Climate in State of the Union
- Biden's State of the Union address barely mentioned climate change, focusing instead on oil and gas as short-term solutions.
- This de-emphasis was partly to project unity to Putin and to avoid alienating voters concerned about gas prices before midterms.
Obama's 2012 Climate De-Emphasis
- Obama similarly de-emphasized climate change during the 2012 campaign due to high gas prices.
- Voters connect drilling with gas prices more readily than long-term climate policy.