2020 US Presidential Elections: Biden’s Promises to Combat Climate Change

Kristen Ngai | November 20th, 2020

There remains a profound connection between domestic and international affairs within governmental politics, especially in relation to the topic of climate change, an imperatively global issue without a definite solution. Since Donald Trump’s presidency in 2016, many environmental setbacks have been made under Trump, who personally believes climate change to be a “hoax.” Trump’s presidency led to many changes that essentially undermined the environmental legacy of the Obama-Era. With the US surpassing both Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producers, much of America’s current environmental policies need considerable reform. As such, Joe Biden’s Democratic victory over the Republican party, in the recent 2020 US presidential election, comes as great news. Biden, in particular, takes a strong stance against climate change as his political campaign promised to rectify the many environmental issues we face today. His commitment to the environmental crisis is immensely necessary, particularly so after Trump directly contributed to the issue during his presidency. Thus, Biden plans to address fossil fuel regulation, climate change policies, and renewable energy sources. These environmental factors are pivotal for the race against climate change as it becomes a bigger issue as we speak.

Throughout his presidency, Trump had revived the Keystone XL Pipeline Project, which was strictly rejected during the Obama Administration (1). This thirteen million dollar project intends to transport Canadian oil from Alberta to various American states, before eventually reaching America’s largest refining center. Throughout the process, the Pipeline Project will have toxic tar sands produced along its 1,200 miles pipeline pathway. As tar sands contain carbon-intensive, destructive properties, this project will most certainly poison the water sources of surrounding communities while also rendering wildlife habitats inhabitable (2). Currently, the Pipeline Project faces procedural and legal complications after having its water-crossing permit revoked by a Montana federal judge. The company overseeing the Pipeline Project, TransCanada, is being consistently denied permits under the Clean Water Act, respecting the public agreement. Before this dangerous project is able to take action, Biden plans to shut it down completely for fear of its environmental repercussions. He also intends to rescind another one of Trump’s environmental setbacks: his 2019 withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

Trump was met with public dissent after pulling America out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which aimed to have countries keep global temperatures under 2C in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (3). Out of the two hundred countries participating to combat climate change, the US stands as the only country to withdraw. This withdrawal resulted in the termination of environmental federal policies which served to reduce fossil fuel usage and pollution sources (4). As such, with Biden’s renewed participation in the Paris Agreement, the US can expect to bring about environmental reform, alongside its countless international partners.

Biden also devised a “climate plan,” involving the gradual investment of four hundred billion dollars over the next ten years. This hefty sum is specifically dedicated to climate change research, clean energy, and environmental innovations. By 2030, Biden plans to double the amount of offshore wind production, alongside the reinstatement of an electric vehicle tax credit; this particular focus on the production and usage of electric vehicles will surely fulfill the newly instated fuel-efficiency standards (5). Consequently, the increased market motive for clean energy will eventually undo Trump’s former influence on the market: in favour of the gas and oil industry, Trump had tremendously slowed the market growth for green energy projects and solar modules. An especially noteworthy point of Biden’s plan would be his decision to utilize international trade as a way to manage the costs of climate pollution: goods imported from overseas will have tariffs imposed in accordance with their contribution to climate pollution (6). From this, Biden creates market incentives for lessening pollution, thereby lessening the ultimate burden of climate change.

Thus, with all things considered, we can see, through Biden’s political campaign, that the US presidency has an ever-expanding influence on international affairs, relative to climate change. Whether it be international projects, agreements, or trade, Biden’s political endeavours aim to confront environmental issues and intersect with international laws and partners.

Endnotes

1. "Trump Vs Biden on the Environment—here’s Where They Stand." National Geographic. Last modified October 21, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/10/trump-vs-biden-environment-heres-where-they-stand/.

2. "4 Key Impacts of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines." National Geographic. Last modified January 25, 2017. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/01/impact-keystone-dakota-access-pipeline-environment-global-warming-oil-health/.

3. "U.S. Formally Begins To Leave The Paris Climate Agreement." NPR.org. Last modified November 4, 2019. https://www.npr.org/2019/11/04/773474657/u-s-formally-begins-to-leave-the-paris-climate-agreement.

4. "U.S. Formally Begins To Leave…”

5. "Trump Vs Biden on the Environment—here’s Where They Stand." National Geographic. Last modified October 21, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/10/trump-vs-biden-environment-heres-where-they-stand/.

6. "Trump Vs Biden on the Environment…”