Like a runner bursting out of the starting blocks, President Joe Biden has swiftly taken far-reaching steps to implement his agenda. The president’s decisions and executive orders in just his first day in office reverse many actions taken during the past four years, and set a new course for the future. Protection of the environment has assumed a prominent place in the administration’s plans. Recognizing the “converging economic, health and climate crises that have exposed and exacerbated inequities,” Executive Order 13985, the president has focused on actions to simultaneously address climate change and equity concerns in ways that will revitalize the economy.

As anticipated, on his first day in office, the president gave formal notice that the United States would rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change. This highly symbolic action combined with the appointment of former Secretary of State John Kerry as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate highlights the administration’s commitment to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions and its intent to lead the international community in the climate arena. Efforts to meet national greenhouse gas reduction goals will likely result in proposals for new statutes or regulations addressing domestic carbon emissions. Whether the preferred legal mechanism to achieve greenhouse gas reduction will be individual facility emission limits, a cap-and-trade regime or a carbon tax remains to be seen.

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