Environmental policy of the Joe Biden administration

In May 2022, the White House Council on Environmental Quality released a report describing how Biden's administration followed around 200 recommendations of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. The full report has around 150 pages; it summarizes many of the steps taken by the administration in the environmental domain. Among others, it mentions:{{cite web |title=Biden-⁠Harris Administration Outlines Historic Progress on Environmental Justice in Report Submitted to Congress |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ceq/news-updates/2022/05/23/biden-harris-administration-outlines-historic-progress-on-environmental-justice-in-report-submitted-to-congress-2/ |website=The White House |date=May 23, 2022 |access-date=30 May 2022}}

• Unprecedented funding for energy efficiency implementation and weatherization
• Promoting transit-oriented development, walkability, cycling, and mixed-use development
• Promoting cooperation with Indigenous peoples of the Americas in environmental issues

{{As of|2021}},{{update inline|date=July 2024}} the following officials composed Joe Biden's team for advancing his policy on climate change:{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Courtney |date=25 January 2021 |title=The new Biden climate team — like the old Obama team |agency=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a50588fb-ce03-4839-b8e5-7d8296dd8131 |access-date=2 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Lisa |date=22 December 2020 |title=Biden Introduces His Climate Team |work=The New York Times |agency=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/19/climate/biden-climate-team.html |access-date=2 February 2021}}

{{Further|Political positions of Joe Biden#Environment and climate change|Environmental policy of the United States|Climate change policy of the United States|Climate change in the United States}}

File:President Joe Biden at COP26.jpg in Glasgow, Scotland on November 1, 2021]]

The administration's final target is reaching carbon neutrality in the United States by 2050.{{cite news|last1=Choi|first1=Joseph|date=20 January 2021|title=Macron to Biden and Harris: "Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!"|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/europe/535101-macron-to-biden-and-harris-welcome-back-to-the-paris-agreement|access-date=20 January 2021}} Biden sees climate change as an "existential threat",{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |title="It's time to act": Biden rolls out new actions on climate change |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-signs-executive-actions-climate-change/ |access-date=28 January 2021 |agency=CBC News |date=28 January 2021}} a view supported by most in the scientific community.{{cite web |title=World Scientist's Warning to Humanity |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/11/World%20Scientists%27%20Warning%20to%20Humanity%201992.pdf |website=Union of Concerned Scientists |access-date=11 November 2019}}{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J. |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Newsome |first3=Thomas M. |last4=Galetti |first4=Mauro |last5=Alamgir |first5=Mohammed |last6=Crist |first6=Eileen |last7=Mahmoud |first7=Mahmoud I. |last8=Laurance |first8=William F. |title=World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice |journal=BioScience |date=December 2017 |volume=67 |issue=12 |pages=1026–1028 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix125 |doi-access=free |hdl=11336/71342 |hdl-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Ripple |first1=William J |last2=Wolf |first2=Christopher |last3=Newsome |first3=Thomas M|last4=Barnard |first4=Phoebe |last5=Moomaw |first5=William R|title=World Scientists' Warning of a Climate Emergency |journal=BioScience |at=biz088 |date=5 November 2019 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biz088|doi-access=free |hdl=2445/151800 |hdl-access=free }} During his inauguration, Biden said that "A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear." However, some activists have criticized the administration's policies for being insufficient to prevent catastrophic climate change.{{cite news |last1=Germanos |first1=Andrea |title=Youth Climate Leaders Say Global Future Depends on Biden Being Bold |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/youth-climate-activists-biden-2650054864.html |access-date=27 January 2021 |agency=Ecowatch |date=21 January 2021}}

Biden's climate plan changed significantly in 2020. In the beginning, it was criticized by many environmental groups as not being aggressive enough or even being detrimental contrary to prior stances on climate.{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=District of Columbia 1800 I. Street NW |last2=Dc 20006 |title=PolitiFact - Joe Biden's climate change plan, explained |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2020/aug/03/joe-bidens-climate-change-plan-explained/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=@politifact |language=en-US}} Biden consulted with them, mainly through the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Forces, and included many of their recommendations in his plans, after which it received more support.{{cite news |last1=Berardelli |first1=Jeff |title=How Joe Biden's climate plan compares to the Green New Deal |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/green-new-deal-joe-biden-climate-change-plan/ |access-date=2 February 2021 |agency=CBC News |date=5 October 2020}}

In 2021, the administration set a target of achieving zero emissions from the power sector by 2035.{{Cite web|title=Biden's $2 trillion climate plan aims to reframe debate|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/biden-proposes-overhauling-nations-energy-sector-2035-71774734|access-date=2021-06-23|website=ABC News|language=en}} (Other sectors with considerable emissions are agriculture and construction.) Biden's climate plan includes a strong increase in green building; according to the plan, four million buildings in the United States should be upgraded, as well as 2 million weatherized in the next four years.{{Cite web|date=November 17, 2020|first1=Lauren|last1=Urbanek|first2=Khalil|last2=Shahyd|title=Biden Plan Promises Better Buildings, for Climate and Equity|url=https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lauren-urbanek/biden-plan-promises-better-buildings-climate-and-equity|access-date=2021-06-23|website=NRDC|language=en}} This was expected to create one million green jobs, while the entire climate plan was expected to create 10 million green jobs.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-14|title=Joe Biden unveils aggressive $2tn climate and jobs plan|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/14/joe-biden-climate-jobs-plan|access-date=2021-06-23|website=the Guardian|language=en}} This number is smaller than other proposals like the Green New Deal, however, which claims to guarantee a job for every American.{{cite news |last1=Freidman |first1=Lisa |title=What Is the Green New Deal? A Climate Proposal, Explained |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/climate/green-new-deal-questions-answers.html |website=The New York Times |date=21 February 2019 |access-date=4 March 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Teale |first1=Chris |title=Green buildings 'unheralded hero' in emissions fight, experts say |url=https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/green-buildings-unheralded-hero-in-emissions-fight-experts-say/591925/ |website=Smart Cities Dive |access-date=2 February 2021}}

Biden ordered the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines to prepare a report about the impacts of climate change. Biden also included John Kerry, the Climate Envoy, in the National Security Council. He then created the National Climate Task Force and the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy. He said: "In my view, we've already waited too long to deal with this climate crisis and we can't wait any longer. We see it with our own eyes, we feel it, we know it in our bones." and "it's time to act". He also mentioned that climate action is linked with other aspects of his agenda such as health, jobs, and security.

As of August 2021, some calculations supposed that the infrastructure bill, the budget reconciliation bill, if passed, will cut emissions by 45% by 2030.{{Update inline|date=January 2023}} Administrative orders from Biden and some states were expected to increase the reduction to 50%.{{cite news |title=Climate measures in reconciliation, infrastructure bills will mostly meet Biden's emissions goals, Schumer says |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/25/politics/reconciliation-climate-change-emissions-schumer-biden/index.html |access-date=27 August 2021 |agency=CNN |date=25 August 2021}} In September of that year, the EPA planned to issue its final rule to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions by 85% within 15 years. (HFCs are greenhouse gases that are thousands of times more potent than {{CO2}}.{{Cite web|last=D'Angelo|first=Chris|date=2021-09-23|title=Biden Administration Finalizes Rule To Slash Super-Pollutant HFCs|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hydrofluorocarbons-epa-final-rule-biden_n_614be8cfe4b098483a71b4a9|access-date=2021-09-23|website=HuffPost|language=en}}) In December, Biden signed an executive order directing the US government to cut its own emission by 65% by 2030 with different measures including energy efficiency, electric vehicles and renewable energy.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Michael |title=More electric vehicles, modern buildings: Biden aims to cut federal greenhouse gas emissions by 65% |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/12/08/climate-change-biden-orders-federal-government-lead-example/6437904001/ |access-date=9 December 2021 |agency=USA today |date=8 December 2021}}

{{See also|Greenhouse gas emissions by the United States}}

On the first day of his presidency, Biden signed an order directing a return to the Obama-era policy of taking into account the social cost of carbon when implementing new regulations, a practice that the Trump administration had abandoned in 2017.

In February 2021, Biden raised the social cost of carbon in the US to $51 per tonne, replacing the lower Trump Administration's estimates with the prior estimates developed under Obama.{{cite web |title=A Return to Science: Evidence-Based Estimates of the Benefits of Reducing Climate Pollution |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/written-materials/2021/02/26/a-return-to-science-evidence-based-estimates-of-the-benefits-of-reducing-climate-pollution/ |publisher=The White House |access-date=17 September 2021 |date=2021-02-26}} This figure had an impact on EPA regulations but not on fuel prices.{{cite web |last1=Chemnick |first1=Jean |title=Cost of Carbon Pollution Pegged at $51 a Ton |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cost-of-carbon-pollution-pegged-at-51-a-ton/ |publisher=Scientific American |date=2021-03-01}} Carbon pricing was also already in operation in a few U.S. states. The $51 estimate was lower than the European Union's carbon price but higher than the Chinese carbon price.{{Cite web|last=Meredith|first=Sam|date=2021-05-18|title=Why the world's largest carbon market is experiencing a boom like never before|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/why-europes-carbon-market-is-experiencing-a-boom-like-never-before.html|access-date=2021-06-22|website=CNBC|language=en}} Additionally, the administration set the social cost of methane at $1,500 per tonne.{{Cite web |title=Monitoring methane emissions from oil and gas operations |url=https://opg.optica.org/DirectPDFAccess/D905036B-A987-4A6C-ADCC376287C79D46_477126/oe-30-14-24326.pdf}}

In March 2022, the court allowed the Biden administration to use the social cost of carbon, thus reversing a previous court ruling.{{cite web |last1=Showalter |first1=Michael J. |title=Fifth Circuit Permits Biden Administration To Resume Use of Social Cost of Carbon Measure |url=https://www.natlawreview.com/article/fifth-circuit-permits-biden-administration-to-resume-use-social-cost-carbon-measure |website=National Law Review |access-date=20 March 2022}}

In the years 2021–2022, Biden promoted two bills that could reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% from the level of 2005: the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build Back Better Act. The Build Back Better Act faced strong opposition in the Senate and was not approved.{{cite news |last1=Lo |first1=Joe |title=A for targets, D for action: Joe Biden's first year on climate, graded |url=https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/01/19/targets-d-action-joe-bidens-first-year-climate-graded/ |access-date=26 January 2022 |agency=Climate Home News |date=19 January 2022}} However, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was approved by Congress{{cite news |last1=Romm |first1=Tony |title=Senate approves bipartisan, $1 trillion infrastructure bill, bringing major Biden goal one step closer |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/08/10/senate-infrastructure-bill-vote-biden/ |access-date=November 8, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 10, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |title=Senate passes $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sending key part of Biden's economic agenda to the House |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/senate-to-pass-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill.html |access-date=November 8, 2021 |work=CNBC |date=August 10, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Jalonick |first1=Mary Clare |title=Roads, transit, internet: What's in the infrastructure bill |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-broadband-internet-congress-d89d6bb1b39cd9c67ae9fc91f5eb4c0d |access-date=November 8, 2021 |work=Associated Press |date=November 7, 2021}} and signed by Biden into law in November 2021.{{cite news |last1=Boak |first1=Josh |last2=Long |first2=Colleen |title=Biden signs $1T infrastructure deal with bipartisan crowd |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-congress-infrastructure-bill-signing-b5b8cca843133de060778f049861b144 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |work=Associated Press |date=November 16, 2021}} A group of experts at the REPEAT Project said that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act alone could make only a small reduction in emissions, but they didn't count the impact of measures regarding highways and public transport.{{cite book |url=https://repeatproject.org/docs/REPEAT_Preliminary_Report_102021.pdf |title=Preliminary Report: The Climate Impact of Congressional Infrastructure and Budget Bills |date=20 October 2021 |publisher=Rapid energy policy evaluation and analyzis tollkit |page=9 |access-date=26 January 2022}} Ultimately, the bill included the largest federal investment in public transit in history.{{cite web |date=November 6, 2021 |title=Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/06/fact-sheet-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/ |access-date=26 January 2022 |website=The White House}} It also included spending of $105 billion in public transportation while giving $110 billion to fixing roads and bridges, including measures for climate change mitigation, such as access for cyclists and pedestrians.{{cite news |last1=Sprunt |first1=Barbara |date=10 August 2021 |title=Here's What's Included In The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/24/1009923468/heres-whats-included-in-the-infrastructure-deal-that-biden-struck-with-senators |access-date=11 August 2021 |agency=NPR}}

In August 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment by the U.S. federal government in history, which included over $391 billion to reduce carbon emissions.{{Cite news |last1=Vazquez |first1=Maegan |last2=Judd |first2=Donald |title=Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act into law |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/16/politics/biden-inflation-reduction-act-signing/index.html |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816235717/https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/16/politics/biden-inflation-reduction-act-signing/index.html |archive-date=16 August 2022 |url-status=live }} The bill, passing by a 51–50 vote in the Senate, explicitly defined carbon dioxide as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act to make the Act's EPA enforcement provisions harder to challenge in court.{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Lisa |title=Democrats Designed the Climate Law to Be a Game Changer. Here's How. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/climate/epa-supreme-court-pollution.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=22 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823165028/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/climate/epa-supreme-court-pollution.html |archive-date=23 August 2022 |url-status=live }} With this law, and additional federal and state measures, the U.S. could start to fulfill its pledge in the Paris Agreement: 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by the year 2030.

In 2024, the administration issued new rules which could reduce emissions by over 1 billion tonnes. Among others, coal plants for operating after 2039 must use carbon capture and storage technology.{{cite news |title=Biden administration aims to clean up power sector with revamped rules |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-administration-aims-to-clean-up-power-sector-with-revamped-rules/7584446.html |access-date=1 May 2024 |agency=Voice of America |publisher=Reuters |date=25 April 2024}}

{{Main|Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act}}

Biden's infrastructure plan was a major pillar in his climate policy. In the beginning, Biden intended to include all his climate and infrastructure policies in one bill, including $3{{nbsp}}trillion investments,{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |title=Here's how Biden's infrastructure package will likely tackle climate change |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/29/biden-infrastructure-bill-what-to-expect-on-climate-change.html |access-date=11 May 2021 |agency=CNBC |date=29 March 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Waldman |first1=Scott |title=Biden Says Infrastructure Is the Pillar of His Climate Plan |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/biden-says-infrastructure-is-the-pillar-of-his-climate-plan/ |website=Scientific American |access-date=11 May 2021}} with a large influence specifically on the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States.{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |title=Here's how Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan addresses climate change |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/31/biden-infrastructure-plan-spending-on-climate-change-clean-energy.html |access-date=11 May 2021 |agency=CNBC |date=31 March 2021}} The plan, according to Biden's administration, was intended to help rebuild the American economy and create millions of jobs; the Biden administration often claimed that economic and climate issues are linked.{{cite news |last1=Sheffey |first1=Ayelet |title=Why green initiatives count as infrastructure, from Biden's top climate officials |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-crisis-biden-infrastructure-bill-green-new-deal-roads-bridges-2021-4 |access-date=11 May 2021 |agency=Business Insider |date=2 April 2021}}

In June 2021, Biden and a group of Democratic and Republican senators agreed on a compromise: a $973 billion bill. According to an official press release, "The Plan is the largest federal investment in public transit in history and is the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak." According to the document, the plan would lower greenhouse gas emissions.{{cite journal |title=US Senate reaches compromise over Biden infrastructure plan |journal=International Railway Journal |date=28 June 2021 |url=https://www.railjournal.com/policy/us-senate-reaches-compromise-over-biden-infrastructure-plan/ |access-date=9 July 2021}} On August 10, the bill was approved by the Senate. 19 Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell, voted for it, despite criticism from Donald Trump who called it "the beginning of the Green New Deal". The bill included spending $105 billion for public transit, $21 billion for environmental projects, $50 billion for water storage, $15 billion for electric vehicles, and a new entity called the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Infrastructure.{{cite news |last1=Snell |first1=Kelsey |title=The Senate Approves The $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill In A Historic Vote |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/10/1026081880/senate-passes-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill |access-date=11 August 2021 |agency=NPR |date=10 August 2021}} $73 billion was allotted to spend on power grid infrastructure and its adjustment to renewable energy, and $110 billion was allotted to spend on fixing roads and bridges. There were also measures for climate change mitigation such as access for cyclists and pedestrians. The plan additionally included $1 billion for better connection of neighborhoods separated by transportation infrastructure. According to Biden's administration, the plan was forecasted to add 2 million jobs per year.{{cite news |last1=Breuninger |first1=Kevin |last2=Newburger |first2=Emma |title=Here's what's in the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure deal |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/28/heres-whats-in-the-550-billion-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal.html |access-date=11 August 2021 |agency=CNBC |date=28 July 2021}}

In November 2021, Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included approximately $555{{nbsp}}billion in new investments. The bill was a major pillar of Biden's environmental policy; according to its guidebook issued in 2022, it included over 350 programs, many of which were included in the chapter of "Climate, Energy and the Environment" (pages 149–382), while many others, also related to the environment, were included in all other chapters except "Broadband" (for example, in pages 18, 40, 61, 83, 91, 103, 414, 421, 439, 443 and many more). Altogether, the programs promoted a litany of issues such as energy conservation, public transport, reforestation, recycling, protection from wildfires, and more.{{cite book |title=A GUIDEBOOK TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW FOR STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, AND TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS, AND OTHER PARTNERS |date=May 2022 |publisher=The White House |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/BUILDING-A-BETTER-AMERICA-V2.pdf |access-date=11 February 2024}}

A potential $23 billion worth of tax credits for nuclear generating plants were included in the proposed bill,Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Ari Natter. (13 January 2022). "Manchin Just Gave Biden a Path for His Green Goals: 'I'm Big on Nuclear'

". [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-13/manchin-offers-path-for-biden-green-goals-i-m-big-on-nuclear Bloomberg website] Retrieved 13 January 2022. while the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which eventually became law, included modest amounts to support older plants and the DOE's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ADRP).Staff. (16 November 2021). "Nuclear-supporting infrastructure bill becomes US law". [https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-supporting-infrastructure-bill-becomes-US World Nuclear News website] Retrieved 14 January 2022.

{{Main|Inflation Reduction Act}}

The Inflation Reduction Act has been considered the most important climate legislation in the history of the United States; it has been expected to make some impact internationally, possibly repositioning the country as a climate leader. It represents the largest investment into addressing climate change in American history,{{cite web |last1=Nilsen |first1=Ella |title=Clean energy package would be biggest legislative climate investment in US history |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/28/politics/climate-deal-joe-manchin/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=31 July 2022 |date=28 July 2022}} including more than $391 billion to reduce carbon emissions. According to several independent analyses, the law is projected to reduce 2030 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 2005 levels.{{Cite news |last=Tankersley |first=Jim |date=2022-08-16 |title=Biden Signs Expansive Health, Climate and Tax Law |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/16/business/biden-climate-tax-inflation-reduction.html |access-date=2022-08-18 |issn=0362-4331}}

The bill aimed to decrease residential energy costs by focusing on improvements to home energy efficiency. Measures included $9 billion in home energy rebate programs that focused on improving access to energy efficient technologies, as well as 10 years of consumer tax credits for the use of heat pumps, rooftop solar, and high-efficiency electric heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and water heating. The bill also extended the $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of new electric vehicles while also providing a $4,000 tax credit toward the purchase of used electric vehicles in an effort to increase low- and middle-income access to such technology.{{Cite web |last=Democrats |first=Senate |date=July 27, 2022 |title=Summary of the Energy Security and Climate Change Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 |url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/summary_of_the_energy_security_and_climate_change_investments_in_the_inflation_reduction_act_of_2022.pdf |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=Senate Democrats}} Such measures were projected to lead to an average of $500 in savings on energy spending for every family receiving the maximal benefit of these incentives.{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2022-08-15 |title=BY THE NUMBERS: The Inflation Reduction Act |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/15/by-the-numbers-the-inflation-reduction-act/ |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}

Additionally, the bill included a 30% tax credit ($1,200 to $2,000 per year) and different types of rebates (reaching $14,000) for homeowners who increased the energy efficiency of their house. In some cases, all upgrade expenses would be returned.{{cite news |last1=Iacurci |first1=Greg |title=Consumers may qualify for up to $10,000 — or more — in climate tax breaks and rebates in the Inflation Reduction Act |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/13/how-to-qualify-for-inflation-reduction-act-climate-tax-breaks-rebates.html |access-date=8 September 2022 |agency=CNBC |date=13 August 2022}}

The bill also allocated $3 billion for helping disadvantaged communities with transportation matters, including reconnecting communities separated by transport infrastructure, assuring safe and affordable transportation, "and community engagement activities." The bill also amended improvements to clean transit.{{cite web |title=FACT SHEET: Inflation Reduction Act Advances Environmental Justice |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/17/fact-sheet-inflation-reduction-act-advances-environmental-justice/ |website=The White House |date=August 17, 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022}} Projects improving connectivity and walkability in neighborhoods became eligible for grants between 80% to 100% of their overall cost.{{cite web |title=How States and Cities Can Benefit From Climate Investments in the Inflation Reduction Act |url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/how-states-and-cities-can-benefit-from-climate-investments-in-the-inflation-reduction-act/ |website=Center for American Progress |date=August 25, 2022 |access-date=14 September 2022}} The bill also supported biking.{{cite web |last1=Banayan |first1=Noa |title=What IS in the Inflation Reduction Act for Bikes? |url=https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/what-is-in-the-inflation-reduction-act-for-bikes |website=People for Bikes |access-date=14 September 2022}}

There were also funds allocated to national clean energy production, such as the continuation of the production tax credit ($30 billion) and the investment tax credit ($10 billion) toward clean energy manufacturing including solar power, wind power, and energy storage. Nonprofit entities, state and local governments, and electric cooperatives were allotted more stable and secure funding for such projects than previously, without having to seek institutional investors for help.{{cite web | last=Cooper | first=Ryan | title=The Inflation Reduction Act's Quiet Revolution on Public Power | website=The American Prospect | date=August 18, 2022 | url=https://prospect.org/environment/inflation-reduction-acts-quiet-revolution-on-public-power/ | access-date=June 6, 2023}}

The bill also provided funds toward the decarbonization of the economy in other areas, as well as providing various tax credits and grants toward decarbonizing the industrial and transportation sectors. This also included a program to reduce methane emissions from production and transportation of natural gas. Additionally, the bill established a focus on communities and environmental justice by providing several grants targeting historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities disproportionally impacted by environmental pollution and climate change. The bill also allocated funds for rural communities and forestland, including $20 billion to invest in climate-smart agriculture, $5 billion in forest conservation and urban tree planting, and $2.6 billion to protect and restore coastal habitats.

The law was predicted to slash global greenhouse gas emissions in a manner similar to "eliminating the annual planet-warming pollution of France and Germany combined" and was seen as a helpful measure in limiting the warming of the planet by 1.5 °C—the target of the Paris Agreement.{{cite news |last1=Rathi |first1=Akshat |last2=A Dlouhy |first2=Jennifer |title=Bill Gates and the Secret Push to Save Biden's Climate Bill |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-08-16/how-bill-gates-lobbied-to-save-the-climate-tax-bill-biden-just-signed |access-date=19 September 2022 |agency=Bloomberg |date=August 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Hirji |first1=Zahra |last2=Roston |first2=Eric |title=US Climate Bill Keeps Hope Alive for Halting Warming at 1.5°C |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-12/us-climate-bill-keeps-hope-alive-for-halting-warming-at-1-5-c#xj4y7vzkg |access-date=22 September 2022 |agency=Bloomberg |date=13 August 2022}} An assessment by the Rhodium Group, an independent research firm, estimated it would reduce national greenhouse gas emissions 32% to 42% below 2005 levels by 2030, compared to 24% to 35% under current policy, while reducing household energy costs and improving energy security.{{Cite web |title=A Turning Point for US Climate Progress: Assessing the Climate and Clean Energy Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act |url=https://rhg.com/research/climate-clean-energy-inflation-reduction-act/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Rhodium Group |date=August 12, 2022 |language=en-US}} Furthermore, the Rhodium Group projected that the nuclear provisions in the bill were likely to "keep much, if not all" of the nation's nuclear reactors at risk of retiring, estimated to be 22% to 38% of the fleet, online through the 2030s.{{cite news |last=Natter |first=Ari |date= August 3, 2022|title=Manchin Deal Tosses $30 Billion Lifeline to US Nuclear Reactors |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-03/machin-deal-tosses-30-billion-lifeline-to-us-nuclear-reactors |access-date=2022-08-04 |work=Bloomberg}}

Meanwhile, a preliminary analysis by the REPEAT Project of Princeton University estimated that the investments made by the law would reduce net emissions 42% below 2005 levels, compared to 27% under current policies (including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law).{{Cite web |last=Ebbs |first=Stephanie |title=Experts explain how the Inflation Reduction Act helps fight climate change |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/experts-explain-inflation-reduction-act-helps-fight-climate/story?id=88100442 |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=princeton.edu |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Preliminary Report: The Climate and Energy Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 |url=https://repeatproject.org/docs/REPEAT_IRA_Prelminary_Report_2022-08-12.pdf |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=repeatproject.org}}

The nonpartisan Energy Innovation Group estimated the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be 37% to 41% below 2005 levels in 2030—compared to 24% without the bill.{{Cite web |title=Modeling The Inflation Reduction Act Using The Energy Policy Simulator |url=https://energyinnovation.org/publication/modeling-the-inflation-reduction-act-using-the-energy-policy-simulator/ |access-date=2022-08-01 |publisher=Energy Innovation}}{{Cite web |last=Storrow |first=Benjamin |title=How Much Will the Climate Bill Reduce Emissions? It Depends |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-much-will-the-climate-bill-reduce-emissions-it-depends/ |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=Scientific American |language=en}} This estimate of the greenhouse gas emission reduction lined up with the figure provided by the bill's authors: a 40% reduction in carbon emissions relative to 2005 levels.{{Cite web |last=Newburger |first=Emma |title=Schumer-Manchin reconciliation bill has $369 billion to fight climate change — here are the details |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/27/schumer-manchin-reconciliation-bill-climate-change-provisions.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=CNBC|date=July 28, 2022 }}

Modeling from the nonpartisan research institution Resources for the Future indicated that the bill would decrease retail power costs by 5.2% to 6.7% over a 10-year period, resulting in savings of $170 to $220 per year for the average U.S. household. They also claimed that the bill would tend to stabilize electricity prices.{{Cite web |title=Retail Electricity Rates under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 |url=https://www.rff.org/publications/issue-briefs/retail-electricity-rates-under-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022/ |access-date=2022-08-06 |publisher=Resources for the Future}}{{Cite web |title=Axios Generate, August 5, 2022 |url=https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-generate-90a5dde8-7916-4c69-967c-fe1f9d1665f8.html |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Axios}}

In reaction to the Supreme Court case West Virginia v. EPA, which limited the EPA's authority to institute a program such as the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, Title VI of the IRA amended the Clean Air Act to explicitly designate carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride as air pollutants to unambiguously provide the EPA congressional authorization to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, as well as to promote renewable energy.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/22/climate/epa-supreme-court-pollution.html | title=Democrats Designed the Climate Law to be a Game Changer. Here's How | newspaper=The New York Times | date=August 22, 2022 | last1=Friedman | first1=Lisa }}136 Stat. 2063, {{uspl|117|169}}

In April 2023, Goldman Sachs estimated that the bill would create $3 trillion of climate investments from 2022–2032, with $1.2 trillion of it coming from government incentives. It also estimated the amounts that different sectors would receive, ultimately finding that heat pumps and other full home electrification technologies, plus electric power transmission, would get sizable amounts. The bill has been expected to generate $11 trillion in overall infrastructure investments by 2050.

Biden's administration spent a lot of effort on flood management and increasing climate resilience as a whole, especially in communities that have faced discrimination. In June 2023, $575 million was allocated to help coastal and Great Lakes communities, including tribal communities, to adapt to climate change. When Biden announced the allocation, he mentioned one of the nature reserves of California, saying: "These wetlands act as a critical buffer between the rising tides and the communities at risk."{{cite news |last1=Alvarado |first1=Amanda |date=19 June 2023 |title=Biden visits California nature center, discusses plans for climate change |url=https://www.live5news.com/2023/06/19/biden-discuss-climate-change-clean-energy-jobs/ |access-date=20 June 2023 |publisher=The Associated Press |agency=Live 5}}{{cite web |date=June 20, 2023 |title=FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Makes Historic Investments to Build Community Climate Resilience |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/19/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-makes-historic-investments-to-build-community-climate-resilience/ |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=The White House}} Other measures included protecting coastal ecosystems that then protected communities from sea level rise, storm surge, and more.

In 2023, an agreement between seven states was achieved, aiming to preserve the Colorado River water system from collapse due to poor management and climate change; the country is heavily dependent on this river. Meanwhile, some states would reduce water use, receiving compensation for it ($1.2 billion), from the federal government. Many other projects for preserving the river, such as water recycling and rainwater harvesting, were also advanced. Funding came from the IIJA and IRA.{{cite web |title=Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic Consensus System Conservation Proposal to Protect the Colorado River Basin |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-historic-consensus-system-conservation-proposal |website=U.S. Department of the Interior |date=May 22, 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Benji |title=Why the new Colorado River agreement is a big deal — even if you don't live out West |url=https://www.vox.com/climate/2023/5/23/23734404/colorado-river-cuts-lake-mead-deal |access-date=20 June 2023 |agency=Vox |date=23 May 2023}}

{{Main|American Climate Corps}}

Biden created the American Climate Corps, a national service of the U.S. government focused on climate change prevention. The program was launched in September 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-launches-american-climate-corps-rcna105931|title=White House launches American Climate Corps|date=September 20, 2023|website=NBC News}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/20/climate/biden-climate-corps-youth.html|title=Wanted: 20,000 Young Americans to Fight Climate Change|first=Lisa|last=Friedman|work=The New York Times |date=September 20, 2023|via=NYTimes.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://americorps.gov/newsroom/press-release/president-biden-launches-american-climate-corps-announces-new-americorps|title=President Biden Launches the American Climate Corps, Announces new AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps|website=AmeriCorps}}{{cite news| last=Joselow | first=Maxine | title=Biden's new Climate Corps will train thousands of young people |newspaper=The Washington Post | date=20 September 2023 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/09/20/climate-corps-biden-youth/ | access-date=21 September 2023}} Its tasks have not been defined precisely, but "things like installing solar panels, restoring vulnerable habitats, and fire hazard prevention" were mentioned. According to Biden's plan, in the American Climate Corps' first year, the number of participants was supposed to rise to 20,000; 50,000 more was expected to be added each year by 2031. Such plan has been strongly opposed by Republicans.{{cite web |last1=HULLINGER |first1=JESSICA |title=Want to get a job as one of Biden's 20,000 climate workers? Here's what you need to know |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91073271/want-to-get-a-job-as-one-of-bidens-20000-climate-workers-heres-what-you-need-to-know |access-date=7 April 2024}}

On Earth Day 2024, in the Prince William Forest Park created by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Biden officially launched the Corps' website, on which people could apply for available jobs. 2,000 jobs had already been available when the declaration was made; more than 42,000 people expressed interest in participating.{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Elena |last2=Ordoñez |first2=Franco |title=On Earth Day, Biden launched a new site to apply for Climate Corps jobs |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/04/22/1245979643/biden-earth-day-climate-corps-solar |access-date=1 May 2024 |agency=NPR |date=22 April 2024}}

As part of the administration's long-term strategy to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030,{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=April 22, 2021|title=Biden pledges to slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/22/biden-pledges-to-slash-greenhouse-gas-emissions-in-half-by-2030.html|access-date=May 30, 2024}} Biden issued Executive Order 14030 in May 2021. It directed U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, as head of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), to work with FSOC members to prepare a report on member agency initiatives which included climate-related financial risk in their policies and programs, including policy actions to enhance disclosures by regulated entities to mitigate risk to the U.S. financial system from climate change.{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=May 20, 2021|title=Biden orders federal strategy to curb climate change risk to economy|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/20/biden-orders-climate-change-risk-strategy-to-economy-.html|access-date=May 22, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=President Documents: Executive Order 14030 of May 20, 2021 — Climate-Related Financial Risk|date=May 25, 2021|journal=Federal Register|volume=86|issue=99|pages=27967–27971|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-05-25/pdf/2021-11168.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2024}}

In October 2021, FSOC released a report which identified climate change as an emerging and increasing threat to the stability of the U.S. financial system.{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=October 21, 2021|title=U.S. government agency in charge of financial stability weighs in on climate change risks|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/21/financial-stability-oversight-council-weighs-in-on-climate-risks.html|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=Financial Stability Oversight Council Identifies Climate Change as an Emerging and Increasing Threat to Financial Stability|date=October 21, 2021|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0426|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite report|title=Report on Climate-Related Financial Risk 2021|date=October 21, 2021|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/261/FSOC-Climate-Report.pdf|access-date=April 28, 2023}} In August 2022, Section 60111 in Title VI of the Inflation Reduction Act appropriated $5 million to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), created under the Clean Air Act in 2009, to support enhanced standardization and transparency of corporate greenhouse gas emission reduction commitment plans and interim targets. It also supported corporations' progress towards implementing such plans and meeting such commitments.{{cite web|title=Tackling Climate Pollution – US EPA|date=August 15, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency|url=https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/tackling-climate-pollution|access-date=May 9, 2023}}136 Stat. 2072, {{uspl|117|169}}

In May 2024, Yellen, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Podesta, National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard, and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi issued a joint policy statement providing non-binding guidance to voluntary carbon markets.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=H. Claire|date=May 28, 2024|title=U.S. Issues Guidelines for the Voluntary Carbon Market|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-issues-guidelines-for-the-voluntary-carbon-market-237bddb0|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite report|title=Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles|date=May 28, 2024|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/VCM-Joint-Policy-Statement-and-Principles.pdf|access-date=May 29, 2024}}

In March 2021, Acting Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Rostin Behnam announced the formation of an agency interdivisional unit to assess the impact of climate risks on futures, options, and other derivatives markets.{{cite news|last1=Holger|first1=Dieter|last2=Chin|first2=Kimberly|date=March 17, 2021|title=CFTC Creates Climate Risk Unit to Review Futures, Options|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cftc-creates-climate-risk-unit-to-review-futures-options-11616021725|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=CFTC Acting Chairman Behnam Establishes New Climate Risk Unit|date=March 17, 2021|publisher=Commodity Futures Trading Commission|url=https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8368-21|access-date=April 29, 2023}} In June 2022, the CFTC issued a request for information (RFI) to solicit public comment until October 7, 2022 to inform the agency's response to the recommendations made in the October 2021 FSOC report on climate-related financial risk. It also hosted a convening for voluntary carbon market participants to discuss improving the credibility of carbon credits.{{refn|group=list|name=June 2022 CFTC RFI|{{cite press release|title=CFTC Releases Request for Information on Climate-Related Financial Risk|date=June 2, 2022|publisher=Commodity Futures Trading Commission|url=https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8541-22|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=CFTC Announces Voluntary Carbon Markets Convening|date=May 11, 2022|publisher=Commodity Futures Trading Commission|url=https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8525-22|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Dalton|first1=Matthew|last2=Deng|first2=Chao|last3=Niiler|first3=Eric|date=November 9, 2022|title=U.S. Plan to Ramp Up Carbon Credits Faces Doubts at COP27|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-plan-to-ramp-up-carbon-credits-faces-doubts-at-cop27-11668011105|access-date=April 30, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Ramkumar|first1=Amrith|last2=Shifflett|first2=Shane|date=November 12, 2022|title=Carbon Market Under Pressure to Deliver Billions in Climate Funding|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-market-under-pressure-to-deliver-billions-in-climate-funding-11668203580|access-date=April 29, 2023}}}} In April 2023, in remarks made at an event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center, Behnam stated that the CFTC had the clear legal authority to oversee the carbon credits market to prevent securities fraud and market manipulation (as carbon credits are financial derivatives of an underlying commodity) but not to establish standards for carbon credit registries. He also stated that the CFTC was considering hosting a second convening for voluntary carbon market participants later in the year before formulating an agency policy on carbon credits.{{refn|group=list|name=CFTC BPC event|{{cite interview|title=What's the Federal Role in Improving Carbon Credits?|last=Behnam|first=Rostin|date=April 20, 2023|interviewer=Sasha Mackler|publisher=Bipartisan Policy Center|url=https://bipartisanpolicy.org/event/fed-role-in-carbon-credits/|access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Kahn|first=Debra|date=April 21, 2023|title=It's the economy, stupid|website=Politico|publisher=Axel Springer SE|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game/2023/04/21/its-the-economy-stupid-00093266|access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Ellfeldt|first=Avery|date=April 21, 2023|title=More oversight of carbon credits needed, CFTC chief says|website=Politico Pro|publisher=Axel Springer SE|url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2023/04/21/more-oversight-of-carbon-credits-needed-cftc-chief-says-00093171|access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=September 24, 2022|title=Carbon-Credit Surplus Could Soon Turn to Shortage|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-credit-surplus-could-soon-turn-to-shortage-11663968204|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Hodgson|first=Camilla|date=October 14, 2022|title=US senators push for regulator crackdown on carbon offsets market|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0305d45b-389f-4aad-9407-d923c954e741|access-date=May 4, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=December 16, 2022|title=Carbon-Credit Investors Start to Pay Up for Quality|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-credit-investors-start-to-pay-up-for-quality-11671155725|access-date=April 29, 2023}}}}

In June 2023, the CFTC announced that it would host a second convening the following month. The CFTC Whistleblower Office also announced that it was seeking tips for violations of the Commodity Exchange Act in carbon credit markets.{{cite press release|title=CFTC Announces Second Voluntary Carbon Markets Convening on July 19|date=June 27, 2023|publisher=Commodity Futures Trading Commission|url=https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8731-23|access-date=July 12, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Jaiswal|first=Rishabh|date=June 20, 2023|title=US regulator seeks whistleblower tips on carbon markets misconduct|website=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-regulator-seeks-whistleblower-tips-carbon-markets-misconduct-2023-06-20/|access-date=July 12, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=CFTC Whistleblower Office Issues Alert Seeking Tips Relating to Carbon Markets Misconduct|date=June 20, 2023|publisher=Commodity Futures Trading Commission|url=https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8723-23|access-date=July 12, 2023}} In December 2023, the CFTC released a rule proposal for carbon credit derivative exchange listing that would require commodities exchanges (that trade carbon credit derivatives) to verify the quality of their underlying carbon offsets.{{cite news|last1=Palma|first1=Stefania|last2=Temple-West|first2=Patrick|date=December 4, 2023|title=US regulator floats guidelines for unruly emissions offset market|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/00068301-9d06-433b-8832-26a40639e658|access-date=May 23, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=CFTC Issues Proposed Guidance Regarding the Listing of Voluntary Carbon Credit Derivative Contracts|date=December 4, 2023|publisher=Commodity Futures Trading Commission|url=https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8829-23|access-date=May 23, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION RIN 3038–AF40 – Commission Guidance Regarding the Listing of Voluntary Carbon Credit Derivative Contracts; Request for Comment|date=December 27, 2023|journal=Federal Register|volume=88|issue=247|pages=89410–89428|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-12-27/pdf/2023-28532.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2024}} CFTC Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero stated in May 2024 that the agency expected the rule to be finalized by the end of the year and possibly as early as the following September.{{cite news|last=White|first=Natasha|date=May 22, 2024|title=US Regulator to Issue Carbon-Credits Rulebook Within Months|work=Insurance Journal|publisher=Wells Media Group|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2024/05/22/775307.htm|access-date=May 23, 2024}}

In December 2022, Title I of Division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 enacted the Growing Climate Solutions Act. It required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to evaluate and make a determination of whether to create a Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program that would then create a voluntary registry for private businesses, nonprofit organizations, or public agencies that acted as third-party verifiers of carbon credits for agricultural or forestry carbon offset projects. This would include standardized registration qualifications for participating entities and standardized protocols for ensuring the transparency of carbon credits verified by the registered entities in the program.{{refn|group=list|name=USDA|{{cite news|last=Pontecorvo|first=Emily|date=March 29, 2023|title=USDA to help farmers navigate the murky world of soil carbon offsets|website=Salon.com|url=https://www.salon.com/2023/03/29/usda-to-help-farmers-navigate-the-murky-world-of-soil-carbon-offsets_partner/|access-date=May 23, 2023}}{{usstat|136|5971}}, {{uspl|117|328}}{{cite news|last=McFarlane|first=Sarah|date=October 24, 2021|title=Carbon Offsets Are Used by Companies Seeking 'Net Zero,' but Concerns Persist|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-offsets-are-used-by-companies-seeking-net-zero-but-concerns-persist-11635079489|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Ballard|first=Ed|date=January 25, 2022|title=Tech Startups Race to Rate Carbon Offsets|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tech-startups-race-to-rate-carbon-offsets-11643115605|access-date=April 30, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Niiler|first=Eric|date=July 21, 2022|title=What Are Carbon Offsets, and Can They Combat Climate Change?|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-offsets-climate-change-explained-11658347808|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Ballard|first1=Ed|last2=Holger|first2=Dieter|date=July 28, 2022|title=Proposed Rules Aim to Build Trust in Carbon-Credit Market|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/proposed-rules-aim-to-build-trust-in-carbon-credit-market-11659015707|access-date=April 30, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=January 18, 2023|title=Coming Soon to Carbon-Credit Markets: New Principles Aiming to Enhance Quality|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-credit-standards-sustainable-11674078579|access-date=April 30, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Shifflett|first1=Shane|last2=Holger|first2=Dieter|date=February 7, 2023|title=Carbon-Credit Raters Aim to Assess a Notoriously Opaque Market|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-credit-raters-aim-to-assess-a-notoriously-opaque-market-11675717717|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=March 21, 2023|title=Major registries in the carbon offset market are allowing dubious credits, report says|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/registries-in-carbon-offset-market-allowing-dubious-credits-report.html|access-date=May 4, 2023}}}}

In October 2023, the Department of Agriculture released an assessment report pursuant to the Growing Climate Solutions Act to provide an overview of the agriculture and forestry carbon credits market. It concluded that there were barriers to participation in the market by U.S. farmers, ranchers, and foresters (e.g. limited return on investment due to high upfront and transaction costs, greenhouse gas data quantification, collection, verification, and reporting, permanent carbon sequestration requirements, and market confusion over carbon market programs due to inconsistent standards). The report then stated that such barriers could be addressed by the department by implementing the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program.{{cite press release|title=USDA Releases Assessment on Agriculture and Forestry in Carbon Markets|date=October 23, 2023|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture|url=https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/10/23/usda-releases-assessment-agriculture-and-forestry-carbon-markets|access-date=May 22, 2024}}{{cite report|title=A General Assessment of the Role of Agriculture and Forestry in U.S. Carbon Markets|date=October 23, 2023|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture|url=https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-General-Assessment-of-the-Role-of-Agriculture-and-Forestry-in-US-Carbon-Markets.pdf|access-date=May 22, 2024}}

In February 2024, the Department of Agriculture released a report announcing that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack had determined that the department would establish the program.{{cite press release|title=USDA Announces Progress on Newly Authorized Climate Programs|date=February 27, 2024|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture|url=https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/02/27/usda-announces-progress-newly-authorized-climate-programs|access-date=May 22, 2024}}{{cite report|title=USDA Intent to Establish the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program|date=February 27, 2024|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture|url=https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/GCSA-JustificationReport.pdf|access-date=May 22, 2024}}

In March 2021, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the U.S. Labor Department announced that it would review and not enforce a Trump administration final rule for fiduciaries in proxy voting under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to consider pecuniary interests only and not environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investments for 401(k)s pursuant to Executive Order 13990.{{cite news|last=Iacurci|first=Greg|date=March 10, 2021|title=Biden administration won't enforce Trump-era ESG rule for 401(k) plans|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/10/biden-administration-wont-enforce-trump-era-esg-rule-for-401k-plans.html|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{cite news|last1=Holger|first1=Dieter|last2=Lim|first2=Dawn|date=March 10, 2021|title=Labor Department Holds Off Enforcement of ESG Rule for 401(k)s|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/labor-department-holds-off-enforcement-of-esg-rule-for-401-k-s-11615413015|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=October 30, 2020|title=Labor Department Curbs Sustainable Investing in 401(k)s|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/labor-department-curbs-sustainable-investing-in-401-k-s-11604099154|access-date=November 23, 2022}}

In October 2021, EBSA proposed reversing the Trump administration ERISA final rule for fiduciaries in proxy voting on ESG investments for 401(k)s.{{cite news|last=Tergesen|first=Anne|date=October 13, 2021|title=ESG Funds Easier for 401(k)s to Buy Under Labor Department Plan|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/esg-funds-for-401-k-s-easier-to-buy-under-labor-department-plan-11634160291|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Dore|first=Kate|date=October 15, 2021|title=Labor Department proposes reversing Trump-era rules on socially conscious investing|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/15/labor-dept-proposes-reversing-trump-era-rules-on-socially-conscious-investing.html|access-date=November 23, 2022}}

In November 2022, EBSA announced a final rule removing the Trump administration pecuniary interest-only requirement for fiduciaries in proxy voting under ERISA when considering ESG investments for 401(k)s.{{cite news|last=Iacurci|first=Greg|date=November 22, 2022|title=Biden administration loosens Trump-era investing rules around environment, social and governance funds for 401(k) plans|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/22/biden-administration-loosens-trump-era-esg-rules-for-401k-plans.html|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Tergesen|first=Anne|date=November 22, 2022|title=Labor Department Clears Path for 401(k) Plans to Offer ESG Funds|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/labor-department-clears-path-for-401-k-plans-to-offer-esg-funds-11669091351|access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{cite journal|title=DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employee Benefits Security Administration (29 CFR Part 2550 RIN 1210–AC03) – Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights|date=December 1, 2022|publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office|journal=Federal Register|volume=87|issue=230|pages=73822–73886|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-01/pdf/2022-25783.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2023}}

In March 2023, in the first veto of his administration, Biden rejected a bill passed by the 118th United States Congress on party-line votes to overturn the EBSA ERISA 401(k) fiduciary proxy voting rule for ESG investments which had been finalized the previous November.{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Ken|date=March 20, 2023|title=Joe Biden Issues First Veto, Rejecting Attempt to Block ESG Effort|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-issues-first-veto-rejecting-attempt-to-block-esg-effort-63c2f969|access-date=March 22, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Iacurci|first=Greg|date=March 21, 2023|title=Biden used first veto to save a 401(k) investment rule. Here's what it does|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/21/biden-veto-401k-rule-esg-investment-funds.html|access-date=March 22, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Bazail-Eimil|first=Eric|date=February 28, 2023|title=House Passes Bill Taking Aim at ESG Investments|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-bill-taking-aim-at-esg-investments-aa094a1e|access-date=March 23, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Wilkie|first=Christina|date=March 1, 2023|title=Senate overturns federal rule on ESG investments, Biden vows to veto|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/01/esg-bill-senate-vote-on-overturning-federal-rule-on-esg-investments.html|access-date=March 22, 2023}}

In August 2021, the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) of the U.S. Treasury Department issued an RFI for climate-related financial risks to the U.S. insurance industry pursuant to Executive Order 14030.{{cite press release|title=U.S. Department of the Treasury Launches New Effort on Climate-Related Financial Risks in the Insurance Sector|date=August 31, 2021|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0337|access-date=June 13, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Federal Insurance Office Request for Information on the Insurance Sector and Climate-Related Financial Risks|date=August 31, 2021|journal=Federal Register|volume=86|issue=166|pages=48814–48819|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-08-31/pdf/2021-18713.pdf|access-date=June 13, 2024}}

In November 2021, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu stated, at a conference hosted by The Wall Street Journal for sustainable business, that climate risk guidance for bank stress tests issued by his office would be consistent with stress test principles proposed by the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS).{{cite news|last=Tokar|first=Dylan|date=November 17, 2021|title=U.S. Climate Risk Guidance Will Be in Line With Global Principles, Bank Regulator Says|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-climate-risk-guidance-will-be-in-line-with-global-principles-bank-regulator-says-11637194365|access-date=April 28, 2023}} The next month, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released a draft regulatory guidance statement to banks for identifying climate risks and for climate risk management (CRM).{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=December 16, 2021|title=Climate Risks for Big Banks Could Hurt Financial System, OCC Says|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-risks-for-big-banks-could-hurt-financial-system-occ-says-11639699143|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=Risk Management: Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Banks; Request for Feedback|date=December 16, 2021|publisher=Office of the Comptroller of the Currency|url=https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2021/bulletin-2021-62.html|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite report|title=Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Banks|date=December 16, 2021|publisher=Office of the Comptroller of the Currency|url=https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2021/bulletin-2021-62a.pdf|access-date=May 1, 2023}}

In February 2022, the FIO announced that it had joined the NGFS.{{cite press release |title=Treasury's Federal Insurance Office Continues Efforts on Climate-Related Financial Risks in the Insurance Sector, Joins the NGFS |date=February 17, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Treasury Department |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0598 |access-date=June 13, 2024}} In March, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued a request for public comment on draft guidance for CRM for financial institutions with over $100 billion in assets.{{cite press release |title=FDIC Issues Request for Comment on Statement of Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions |date=March 30, 2022 |publisher=Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |url=https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2022/pr22027.html |access-date=May 30, 2024}}{{cite journal |title=FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION RIN 3064–ZA32 – Statement of Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions |date=April 4, 2022 |journal=Federal Register |volume=87 |issue=64 |pages=19507–19512 |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-04-04/pdf/2022-07065.pdf |access-date=May 30, 2024}} In September, the OCC announced the appointment of a chief climate risk officer who would report directly to the comptroller.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=September 12, 2022|title=U.S. Banking Regulator Appoints New Climate Risk Chief|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-banking-regulator-appoints-new-climate-risk-chief-11663012908|access-date=April 28, 2023}} In October, the FIO issued a request for comment on a proposed home and property insurance data collection effort, aggregated at the ZIP Code level, to assess climate-related impacts on insurability pursuant to Executive Order 14030.{{cite news|last=Nilsen|first=Ella|date=October 18, 2022|title=Treasury Department launches assessment of how extreme weather is increasing insurance rates|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/18/politics/treasury-extreme-weather-insurance-rates-climate/index.html|access-date=June 12, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Livni|first=Ephrat|date=October 18, 2022|title=Treasury Dept. to Ask Insurers for Data on Climate Risks to Measure Coverage Affordability|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/business/dealbook/treasury-insurance-climate-risk.html|access-date=June 12, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=Treasury's Federal Insurance Office Takes Important Step to Assess Climate-related Financial Risk – Seeks Comment on Proposed Data Call|date=October 18, 2022|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1030|access-date=June 12, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Federal Insurance Office Climate-Related Financial Risk Data Collection|date=October 21, 2022|journal=Federal Register|volume=87|issue=203|pages=64134–64141|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-10-21/pdf/2022-22880.pdf|access-date=June 12, 2024}} In December, the OCC chief climate risk officer stated, at a conference hosted by Ceres, that the OCC climate risk regulatory guidance for banks was issued to encourage banking institutions to adopt CRM policies and not to promote carbon neutrality pledges.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=December 6, 2022|title=U.S. Bank Regulator's Climate Push About Mitigating Risk, Not Steering Policy, Official Says|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-bank-regulators-climate-push-about-mitigating-risk-not-steering-policy-official-says-11670368460|access-date=April 28, 2023}} In the same month, the Federal Reserve also issued a request for public comment on draft guidance for CRM for financial institutions with over $100 billion in assets.{{cite news|last=Prentice|first=Chris|date=December 2, 2022|title=U.S. Fed proposes plan for banks to manage climate-linked financial risk|website=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/us-fed-proposes-framework-how-banks-manage-climate-related-financial-risk-2022-12-02/|access-date=May 30, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=Federal Reserve Board invites public comment on proposed principles providing a high-level framework for the safe and sound management of exposures to climate-related financial risks for large banking organizations|date=December 2, 2022|publisher=Federal Reserve|url=https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20221202b.htm|access-date=May 30, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM [Docket No. OP–1793] – Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions|date=December 8, 2022|journal=Federal Register|volume=87|issue=235|pages=75267–75271|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-08/pdf/2022-26648.pdf|access-date=May 30, 2024}}

In January 2023, the Federal Reserve announced that the six largest U.S. banks (Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo) would have until July 31 to complete a pilot climate scenario exercise analysis of climate risks to their loan portfolios and commercial real estate holdings in the Northeastern United States.{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Jeff|date=January 17, 2023|title=Fed directs big banks to disclose how they are preparing for climate change risks|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/17/fed-directs-big-banks-to-disclose-how-they-are-preparing-for-climate-change-risks.html|access-date=January 18, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=Federal Reserve Board provides additional details on how its pilot climate scenario analysis exercise will be conducted and the information on risk management practices that will be gathered over the course of the exercise|date=January 17, 2023|publisher=Federal Reserve Board of Governors|url=https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20230117a.htm|access-date=January 18, 2023}} In June, the FIO released a report pursuant to Executive Order 14030 that found that climate risk oversight was becoming increasingly critical for state insurance regulators; along with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), state regulators had been incorporating climate risk into supervision and regulation of the U.S. insurance industry, though most efforts remained preliminary.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=June 27, 2023|title=Climate Risk a Major Challenge for Insurance Industry, Treasury Says|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-risk-a-major-challenge-for-insurance-industry-treasury-says-6725f954|access-date=May 18, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=Treasury's Federal Insurance Office Releases Report Assessing Climate-Related Risk, Gaps in Insurance Supervision|date=June 27, 2023|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1579|access-date=May 18, 2024}}{{cite report|title=Insurance Supervision and Regulation of Climate-Related Risks|date=June 27, 2023|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department, Federal Insurance Office|url=https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/FIO-June-2023-Insurance-Supervision-and-Regulation-of-Climate-Related-Risks.pdf|access-date=May 18, 2024}} In October, the OCC, the FDIC, and the Federal Reserve issued joint non-binding regulatory guidance for CRM for financial institutions with over $100 billion in assets.{{cite press release|title=Risk Management: Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions|date=October 24, 2023|publisher=Office of the Comptroller of the Currency|url=https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2023/bulletin-2023-33.html|access-date=May 30, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency [Docket ID OCC–2022–0023] FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM [Docket No. OP–1793] FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION RIN 3064–ZA32 Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions|date=October 30, 2023|journal=Federal Register|volume=88|issue=208|pages=74183–74189|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-10-30/pdf/2023-23844.pdf|access-date=May 30, 2024}} In November, the FIO submitted its home and property insurance data collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act.{{cite news|last1=Frank|first1=Thomas|last2=Ellfeldt|first2=Avery|date=November 3, 2023|title=Insurers face wave of inquiries over climate risks|website=E&E News|publisher=Politico, Axel Springer SE|url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/insurers-face-wave-of-inquiries-over-climate-risks/|access-date=June 12, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=Treasury's Federal Insurance Office Advances First Insurer Data Call to Assess Climate-Related Financial Risk to Consumers|date=November 1, 2023|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1867|access-date=June 12, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Federal Insurance Office Climate-Related Financial Risk Data Collection for U.S. Homeowners Multi-Peril Underwriting Data|date=November 2, 2023|journal=Federal Register|volume=88|issue=211|pages=75380–75386|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-11-02/pdf/2023-24248.pdf|access-date=June 12, 2024}}

In March 2024, the NAIC sent letters to 400 home insurance companies requesting detailed data on policy pricing and structuring to investigate affordability and availability issues of home insurance in collaboration with the FIO.{{cite news|last1=Flitter|first1=Emily|last2=Flavelle|first2=Christopher|date=March 8, 2024|title=States Dig Into Homeowners Insurance and Why It's Hard to Buy|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/business/homeowners-insurance-state-regulators.html|access-date=May 22, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Flitter|first=Emily|date=March 21, 2024|title=National Plan to Look Into Homeowners Insurers Hits a Hurdle|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/business/naic-homeowners-insurers-states-hurdle.html|access-date=May 22, 2024}}{{cite press release|title=U.S. Department of the Treasury and State Insurance Regulators Launch Coordinated Effort on Homeowners Insurance Data Collection to Assess the Effects of Climate Risk on U.S. Insurance Markets|date=March 8, 2024|publisher=U.S. Treasury Department|url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2162|access-date=June 11, 2024}} In May, the Federal Reserve released a summary of the results of the pilot exercise analysis; it found that the participating banks had significant modeling difficulties due to a lack comprehensive and consistent data on building characteristics, insurance coverage, and counter-party CRM policies. The summary ultimately concluded that better understanding and monitoring of indirect socioeconomic impacts from climate change and chronic climate risks were important for CRM; that insurance performs a crucial role in climate risk mitigation for consumers, businesses, and banks; that changes in the insurance industry need to be monitored; and that climate risks were highly uncertain and difficult to measure to the point where the participating banks had difficulty determining how to incorporate climate risks into business-as-usual frameworks for risk management.{{cite press release|title=Federal Reserve Board releases summary of the exploratory pilot Climate Scenario Analysis (CSA) exercise that it conducted with six of the nation's largest banks|date=May 9, 2024|publisher=Federal Reserve|url=https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20240509a.htm|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite report|title=Pilot Climate Scenario Analysis Exercise: Summary of Participants' Risk-Management Practices and Estimates|date=May 9, 2024|publisher=Federal Reserve|url=https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/csa-exercise-summary-20240509.pdf|access-date=May 29, 2024}}

In December 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it was seeking public comment until February 21, 2023 for potential revisions to agency guidelines made pursuant to Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 for preventing deceptive green marketing practices for claims about carbon offsets, compostability, biodegradability, oxo-biodegradability, photodegradability, ozone safety, recyclability, recycled content, energy use and energy efficiency, organic products, and sustainability.{{refn|group=list|name=FTC green guides|{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=January 12, 2023|title=FTC Weighs Stiff Penalties on Deceptive 'Green' Marketing|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ftc-weighs-stiff-penalties-on-deceptive-green-marketing-11673485112|access-date=January 12, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=FTC Seeks Public Comment on Potential Updates to its 'Green Guides' for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims|date=December 14, 2022|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/12/ftc-seeks-public-comment-potential-updates-its-green-guides-use-environmental-marketing-claims|access-date=January 12, 2023}}{{cite journal|title=FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (16 CFR Part 260 RIN 3084–AB15) – Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims|date=December 20, 2022|publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office|journal=Federal Register|volume=87|issue=243|pages=77766–77770|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-12-20/pdf/2022-27558.pdf|access-date=January 12, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Megan|date=August 9, 2022|title=What Brands Should Know as FTC Prepares to Update Green Marketing Guidelines|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-brands-should-know-as-ftc-prepares-to-update-green-marketing-guidelines-11660042800|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite news|title=How to Spot Greenwashing: When Companies Aren't as Green as They Claim|date=April 24, 2023|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/video/series/wsj-glossary/how-to-spot-greenwashing-when-companies-arent-as-green-as-they-claim/59966923-0E1F-4EA2-86BD-F953481BF6C1|access-date=May 1, 2023}}}}

In January 2023, the FTC extended the public comment window for the revisions to its green marketing guidelines until April 24.{{cite press release|title=Federal Trade Commission Extends Public Comment Period on Potential Updates to its Green Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims|date=January 31, 2023|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/01/federal-trade-commission-extends-public-comment-period-potential-updates-its-green-guides-use|access-date=March 23, 2023}} In March, the FTC announced that it would host a workshop about recycling marketing claims as part of its review for its green marketing guidelines on May 23.{{refn|group=list|name=FTC recycling workshop|{{cite press release|title=FTC to Host Workshop on "Recyclable" Claims as Part of its Ongoing Review of the Agency's Green Guides|date=March 1, 2023|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/ftc-host-workshop-recyclable-claims-part-its-ongoing-review-agencys-green-guides|access-date=May 1, 2023}}{{cite episode|title=Plastic Wars|series=FRONTLINE|series-link=Frontline (American TV program)|network=PBS|station=WGBH|date=March 31, 2020|season=38|number=15|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/plastic-wars/|access-date=July 10, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Dain|date=December 26, 2020|title=Managing the electronic waste problem will take a much bigger commitment|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/12/26/managing-the-e-waste-problem-will-take-a-much-bigger-commitment.html|access-date=May 2, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|date=March 2, 2020|title=Apple to pay up to $500 million to settle U.S. lawsuit over slow iPhones|website=Reuters|publisher=Thomson Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-iphones-settlement/apple-to-pay-up-to-500-million-to-settle-u-s-lawsuit-over-slow-iphones-idUSKBN20P2E7|access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shead|first=Sam|date=October 14, 2020|title=Sustainability experts welcome Apple's move to scrap iPhone accessories, call for more action on e-waste|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/14/apple-praised-for-removing-earpods-and-charger-from-iphone-12-box.html|access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Allyn|first=Bobby|date=November 18, 2020|title=Apple Agrees To Pay $113 Million To Settle 'Batterygate' Case Over iPhone Slowdowns|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936268845/apple-agrees-to-pay-113-million-to-settle-batterygate-case-over-iphone-slowdowns|access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Gammon|first=Katharine|date=May 5, 2022|title=US is recycling just 5% of its plastic waste, studies show|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/04/us-recycling-plastic-waste|access-date=December 18, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Westervelt|first=Amy|author-link=Amy Westervelt |date=May 11, 2022|title=Exxon doubles down on 'advanced recycling' claims that yield few results|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/11/exxon-advanced-recycling-plastic-pollution-investigation|access-date=December 18, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Woods|first=Bob|date=May 13, 2023|title=Recycling 'end-of-life' solar panels, wind turbines, is about to be climate tech's big waste business|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/13/recycling-end-of-life-solar-panel-wind-turbine-is-big-waste-business.html|access-date=May 15, 2023}}}}

In February 2021, Acting U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Allison Lee announced that the SEC would open a review of climate-related disclosures for public companies to update regulatory guidance that the agency had issued in 2010 for such disclosures.{{cite news|last1=Holger|first1=Dieter|last2=Chin|first2=Kimberly|date=February 24, 2021|title=SEC Opens Review of Corporate Climate Change Disclosures|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-opens-review-of-corporate-climate-change-disclosures-11614215912|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Dave|date=June 21, 2021|title=SEC Wants More Climate Disclosures. Businesses Are Preparing for a Fight.|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-fight-brews-as-sec-moves-toward-mandate-for-risk-disclosure-11624267803|access-date=April 28, 2023}}

Later that March, the SEC announced that examination of regulatory compliance related to disclosures for climate change and ESG would be an area of focus for the agency in 2021.{{cite news |last=Michaels |first=Dave |date=March 3, 2021 |title=Climate Change Emerges as a Compliance Focus for SEC |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-change-emerges-as-a-compliance-focus-for-sec-11614802615 |access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Tokar |first=Dylan |date=May 4, 2021 |title=Compliance Officers Play Growing Role in Corporate Sustainability Efforts |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/compliance-officers-play-growing-role-in-corporate-sustainability-efforts-11620136800 |access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Zhang |first=Natalie |date=June 25, 2020 |title=The rise of ESG investing |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2020/06/25/the-rise-of-esg-investing.html |access-date=May 2, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Scott |last2=Ramkumar |first2=Amrith |date=May 22, 2021 |title=Green Finance Goes Mainstream, Lining Up Trillions Behind Global Energy Transition |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/green-finance-goes-mainstream-lining-up-trillions-behind-global-energy-transition-11621656039 |access-date=April 28, 2023}} The SEC also announced the creation of a task force to pursue enforcement cases against investment fund managers and public companies for deceptive marketing regarding ESG investment funds, as well as for false or misleading statements in climate risk disclosures.{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Dave|date=March 4, 2021|title=SEC to Hunt for Climate-Friendly Marketing That Misleads Investors|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-to-hunt-for-climate-friendly-marketing-that-misleads-investors-11614898102|access-date=April 25, 2023}}

In August, the SEC and the Eastern New York U.S. Attorney's Office were reportedly investigating the DWS Group (the asset management division of Deutsche Bank) after its former chief sustainability officer leaked internal emails and company presentations to The Wall Street Journal, showing that the company had overstated its ESG investment efforts.{{cite news|last1=Kowsmann|first1=Patricia|last2=Ramey|first2=Corinne|last3=Michaels|first3=Dave|date=August 25, 2021|title=U.S. Authorities Probing Deutsche Bank's DWS Over Sustainability Claims|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-authorities-probing-deutsche-banks-dws-over-sustainability-claims-11629923018|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Kowsmann|first1=Patricia|last2=Brown|first2=Ken|date=August 1, 2021|title=Fired Executive Says Deutsche Bank's DWS Overstated Sustainable-Investing Efforts|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fired-executive-says-deutsche-banks-dws-overstated-sustainable-investing-efforts-11627810380|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Ken|last2=Kowsmann|first2=Patricia|date=September 25, 2021|title=At Deutsche Bank's DWS, Issues With Data Were at Heart of Sustainable-Investing Problems|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-deutsche-banks-dws-mistrust-of-data-was-at-heart-of-sustainable-investing-problems-11632574801|access-date=April 25, 2023}}

In remarks made by video conference to the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs in September, SEC Chair Gary Gensler stated that the agency was preparing recommendations for new disclosure requirements for ESG investment funds.{{refn|group=list|name=September 2021 SEC Chair ECON remarks|{{cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=September 1, 2021|title=SEC Considers Asking Funds for Criteria Used to Tout Sustainability|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-considers-asking-funds-for-criteria-used-to-tout-sustainability-11630513822|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite speech|title=Remarks before the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs|last=Gensler|first=Gary|date=September 1, 2021|place=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/gensler-remarks-european-parliament-090121|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=June 11, 2021|title=How ESG Stocks Perform Depends on Who Ranks Them|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-esg-stocks-perform-depends-on-who-ranks-them-11623403803|access-date=April 27, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=August 10, 2021|title=How the WSJ Compared ESG Ratings|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-wsj-compared-esg-ratings-11628608473|access-date=April 27, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=September 9, 2021|title=Funds Go Green, but Sometimes in Name Only|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/funds-go-green-but-sometimes-in-name-only-11631179801|access-date=April 27, 2023}}}} Also that month, the SEC released a list of letters sent to the chief financial officers of certain public companies to request that the companies provide greater information to investors about climate risks to financial earnings or business operations.{{cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=September 22, 2021|title=SEC Asks Dozens of Companies for More Climate Disclosures|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/regulators-ask-dozens-of-companies-for-more-climate-disclosures-11632341672|access-date=April 25, 2023}}

In November, the SEC rescinded a Trump administration rule issued in 2017 which permitted company managers to exclude ESG proposals from shareholders in annual proxy statements.{{cite news |last=Kiernan |first=Paul |date=November 3, 2021 |title=SEC Rescinds Trump-era Policy, Eases Path for Shareholder Proposals on Environmental, Social Issues |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-eases-path-for-shareholder-proposals-on-environmental-social-issues-11635979349 |access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Holger |first=Dieter |date=March 9, 2021 |title=More ESG Shareholder Proposals Could Reach Ballots Under New SEC Leadership |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-esg-shareholder-proposals-could-reach-ballots-under-new-sec-leadership-11615285800 |access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Vanderford |first=Richard |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Shareholder Voices Poised to Grow Louder With SEC's Help |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/shareholder-voices-poised-to-grow-louder-with-secs-help-11644575402 |access-date=April 28, 2023}} In December, the U.S. Justice Department informed Deutsche Bank that it may have violated its deferred prosecution agreement from the previous January by failing to inform prosecutors of their former chief sustainability officer's internal complaint about the DWS Group's overstating of its ESG investment efforts.{{cite news|last1=Michaels|first1=Dave|last2=Kowsmann|first2=Patricia|date=December 8, 2021|title=Justice Department Told Deutsche Bank Lender May Have Violated Criminal Settlement|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-told-deutsche-bank-lender-may-have-violated-criminal-settlement-11638993595|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Ramey|first1=Corinne|last2=Patrick|first2=Margot|date=January 8, 2021|title=Deutsche Bank to Pay $130 Million to Settle Federal Criminal and Civil Investigations|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/deutsche-bank-to-pay-130-million-to-settle-federal-criminal-and-civil-investigations-11610144318|access-date=April 25, 2023}}

In March 2022, the SEC approved a rules proposal to require the disclosure of climate risks, CRM policies, and carbon footprint accounting (including the use of carbon offsets) by public companies in 10-K forms and other SEC filings pursuant to Sections 7, 10, 19(a), and 28 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 3(b), 12, 13, 15, 23(a), and 36 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This was modeled on the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.{{refn|group=list|name=March 2022 SEC climate rules proposal|{{cite news|last=Pisani|first=Bob|date=March 21, 2022|title=The SEC wants to know a lot more about what companies are doing about climate change|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/21/the-sec-wants-to-know-a-lot-more-about-what-companies-are-doing-about-climate-change.html|access-date=May 18, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Franck|first=Thomas|date=March 21, 2022|title=SEC proposes broad climate rules as Chair Gensler says risk disclosure will help investors|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/21/sec-proposes-climate-disclosure-rules-as-gensler-broadens-market-oversight.html|access-date=May 18, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=March 21, 2022|title=SEC Floats Mandatory Disclosure of Climate-Change Risks, Emissions|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-to-float-mandatory-disclosure-of-climate-change-risks-emissions-11647874814|access-date=March 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Eaglesham|first=Jean|date=March 22, 2022|title=New Rules Put Net Zero Pledges Under Scrutiny|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-rules-put-net-zero-pledges-under-scrutiny-11647950909|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Maurer|first1=Mark|last2=Broughton|first2=Kristin|date=March 22, 2022|title=Companies Brace for Higher Compliance Costs as SEC Proposes Climate Disclosures|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-brace-for-higher-compliance-costs-as-sec-proposes-climate-disclosures-11647941400|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=March 23, 2022|title=Who stands to make and lose money if the SEC climate rule becomes law|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/23/sec-climate-rule-winners-and-losers.html|access-date=May 2, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=March 26, 2022|title=SEC Climate Disclosure Proposal Looms as Litigation Risk|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-climate-disclosure-proposal-looms-as-litigation-risk-11648299600|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite journal|title=SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (17 CFR Part 210, 229, 232, 239, and 249 [Release Nos. 33–11042; 34–94478; File No. S7–10–22] RIN 3235–AM87) – The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors|date=April 11, 2022|publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office|journal=Federal Register|volume=87|issue=69|pages=21334–21473|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-04-11/pdf/2022-06342.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=September 8, 2022|title=Companies Are Buying Large Numbers of Carbon Offsets That Don't Cut Emissions|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/renewables-carbon-credits-do-not-cut-emissions-united-nations-verra-gold-standard-11662644900|access-date=April 29, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=January 17, 2023|title=Many Companies Are Shying Away From Carbon Credits|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/many-companies-are-shying-away-from-carbon-credits-11673900838|access-date=April 30, 2023}}}} In the same month, Deutsche Bank agreed to extend the term of an external compliance monitor until February 2023, from its 2015 settlement with the Justice Department, in order to address its failure to disclose the internal ESG complaint from its former chief sustainability officer the previous August.{{cite news|last1=Kowsmann|first1=Patricia|last2=Michaels|first2=Dave|date=March 11, 2022|title=Deutsche Bank Violates DOJ Settlement, Agrees to Extend Outside Monitor|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/deutsche-bank-violates-doj-settlement-agrees-to-extend-outside-monitor-11647016959|access-date=April 27, 2023}}

In May, the SEC extended the public comment window for its climate disclosure rule proposal until June 17{{cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=May 9, 2022|title=SEC Extends Comment Periods on Three Major Rule Proposals|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-extends-comment-period-on-three-major-rule-proposals-until-june-17-11652109343|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Maurer|first=Mark|date=June 21, 2022|title=Companies Skewer SEC's Climate-Disclosures Plan in Comment Letters|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-skewer-secs-climate-disclosures-plan-in-comment-letters-11655834912|access-date=April 28, 2023}} and proposed two rules changes to ESG investment fund qualifications that would prevent greenwashing marketing practices and increase disclosure requirements for achieving ESG impacts.{{refn|group=list|name=May 2022 SEC ESG rules proposal|{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=May 25, 2022|title=SEC unveils rules to prevent misleading claims and enhance disclosures by ESG funds|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/25/sec-unveils-rules-to-prevent-misleading-claims-by-esg-funds-.html|access-date=June 8, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Kiernan|first=Paul|date=May 25, 2022|title=SEC Proposes More Disclosure Requirements for ESG Funds|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-to-propose-more-disclosure-requirements-for-esg-funds-11653498000|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite journal|title=SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (17 CFR Parts 200, 230, 232, 239, 249, 274, and 279 [Release No. 33–11068; 34–94985; IA–6034; IC–34594; File No. S7–17–22] RIN 3235–AM96) – Enhanced Disclosures by Certain Investment Advisers and Investment Companies About Environmental, Social, and Governance Investment Practices|date=June 17, 2022|publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office|journal=Federal Register|volume=87|issue=117|pages=36654–36761|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-06-17/pdf/2022-11718.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Eaglesham|first=Jean|date=January 29, 2022|title=Wall Street's Green Push Exposes New Conflicts of Interest|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/wall-streets-green-push-exposes-new-conflicts-of-interest-11643452202|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Iacurci|first=Greg|date=June 5, 2022|title=That socially responsible fund may not be as 'green' as you think. Here's how to pick one|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/05/picking-a-socially-responsible-fund-can-be-confusing-heres-what-to-know.html|access-date=May 1, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Shifflett|first=Shane|date=October 4, 2022|title=Fund Managers, Regulators Wrestle Over Plans to Tighten ESG Rules|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fund-managers-regulators-wrestle-over-plans-to-tighten-esg-rules-11664845856|access-date=April 28, 2023}}}}

In June, the SEC was reportedly investigating the ESG investment funds of Goldman Sachs for potential greenwashing.{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Dave|date=June 10, 2022|title=SEC Is Investigating Goldman Sachs Over ESG Funds, Sources Say|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-is-investigating-goldman-sachs-over-esg-funds-sources-say-11654895917|access-date=June 10, 2022}} In testimony before the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee in September, Gensler stated that public companies subject to the carbon footprint disclosure rule would not be required to solicit carbon footprint accounting from their small business suppliers.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=September 15, 2022|title=SEC Climate Rule Won't Demand Extensive Reporting From Small Businesses, Gensler Says|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-climate-rule-wont-demand-extensive-reporting-from-small-businesses-gensler-says-11663286786|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Securities and Exchange Commission Oversight Hearing|date=September 15, 2022|publisher=C-SPAN|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?522827-1/securities-exchange-commission-oversight-hearing|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Broughton|first1=Kristin|last2=Maurer|first2=Mark|date=November 17, 2021|title=Companies Push Suppliers to Disclose More Climate Data|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-push-suppliers-to-disclose-more-climate-data-11637145001|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=June 22, 2022|title=Small Businesses Plead With SEC to Show Restraint on Climate Rules|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-businesses-plead-with-sec-to-show-restraint-on-climate-rules-11655916721|access-date=April 25, 2023}}

Later, in October, the SEC announced that it would re-open the public comment windows for the climate disclosure rule proposal and for the ESG disclosure rules proposal due to a technical error with the SEC public comment internet submission form.{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=October 13, 2022|title=SEC Could Ease Up on Scope 3 Greenhouse-Gas Emission Reporting, WSJ Panelists Say|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-could-ease-up-on-scope-3-greenhouse-gas-emission-reporting-wsj-panelists-say-11665705578|access-date=April 25, 2023}}{{cite press release|title=SEC Reopens Comment Periods for Several Rulemaking Releases Due to Technological Error in Receiving Certain Comments|date=October 7, 2022|publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-186|access-date=April 27, 2023}}

In November, Goldman Sachs agreed to pay $4 million to settle the SEC investigation of the company's ESG funds for greenwashing without admitting or denying guilt of the SEC's allegations.{{cite news|last=Michaels|first=Dave|date=November 22, 2022|title=Goldman Sachs to Pay $4 Million to Settle Investigation Over ESG Funds|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/goldman-sachs-to-pay-4-million-to-settle-investigation-over-esg-funds-11669158621|access-date=November 23, 2022}}

In February 2023, the SEC Division of Examinations announced that oversight of ESG investment funds would be among the six top priorities for the agency in 2023.{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Chelsey|date=February 8, 2023|title=SEC to increase scrutiny of crypto-trading firms and ESG funds in 2023|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/08/sec-to-increase-scrutiny-of-crypto-trading-firms-and-esg-funds-in-2023.html|access-date=March 22, 2023}} Gensler stated in an interview that the agency was making adjustments to the climate disclosure rule, proposed the previous March, after the agency had received nearly 15,000 public comments on the rule proposal.{{cite news|last1=Eaglesham|first1=Jean|last2=Kiernan|first2=Paul|date=February 3, 2023|title=SEC Considers Easing Climate-Disclosure Rules After Investor Pushback|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-considers-easing-climate-disclosure-rules-after-investor-pushback-11675416111|access-date=March 22, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Chelsey|date=February 10, 2023|title=SEC weighs making 'adjustments' to controversial climate risk disclosure rule, Chairman Gensler says|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/10/sec-weighs-making-adjustments-to-controversial-climate-risk-disclosure-rule-chairman-gensler-says.html|access-date=March 22, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Eaglesham|first1=Jean|last2=Kiernan|first2=Paul|date=May 17, 2022|title=Fight Brews Over Cost of SEC Climate-Change Rules|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fight-brews-over-cost-of-sec-climate-change-rules-11652779802|access-date=April 28, 2023}}

In March, Gensler suggested in an interview with the Council of Institutional Investors that the Scope 3 emissions disclosure requirement included in the climate disclosure rule proposal could be scaled back due to Scope 3 emissions accounting being less well-developed. He also stated that the climate disclosure rule proposal had received the largest number of public comments for a rule proposal in the agency's history.{{refn|group=list|name=SEC Scope 3 emissions requirement|{{cite news|last=Cox|first=Chelsey|date=March 6, 2023|title=SEC Chair Gensler says 'Scope 3' emissions disclosures aren't 'well developed,' hinting they could be scaled back in climate rule|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/06/sec-chairman-gensler-hints-that-agency-could-scale-back-scope-3-emissions-disclosure.html|access-date=March 22, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Eaglesham|first1=Jean|last2=Shifflett|first2=Shane|date=August 10, 2021|title=How Much Carbon Comes From a Liter of Coke? Companies Grapple With Climate Change Math|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-change-accounting-for-companies-looms-with-all-its-complexities-11628608324|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Eaglesham|first=Jean|date=September 3, 2021|title=Companies Are Tallying Their Carbon Emissions, but the Data Can Be Tricky|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-are-tallying-their-carbon-emissions-but-the-data-can-be-tricky-11630661401|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Eaglesham|first1=Jean|last2=Kiernan|first2=Paul|date=February 18, 2022|title=Climate Disclosure Poses Thorny Questions for SEC as Rules Weighed|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-disclosure-poses-thorny-questions-for-sec-as-rules-weighed-11645180200|access-date=April 27, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Ballard|first=Ed|date=April 14, 2022|title=Scope 3 Rules Hinder Progress on Emissions, Researchers Say|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/scope-3-rules-hinder-progress-on-emissions-researchers-say-11649942039|access-date=April 27, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Shifflett|first1=Shane|last2=Eaglesham|first2=Jean|date=April 17, 2023|title=Climate Rules Expose Surprising Splits Among Businesses|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-rules-expose-surprising-splits-among-businesses-9785633f|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=April 25, 2023|title=SEC's Climate-Disclosure Rule Isn't Here, but It May as Well Be, Many Businesses Say|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/secs-climate-disclosure-rule-isnt-here-but-it-may-as-well-be-many-businesses-say-854789bd|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=April 25, 2023|title=Climate-Disclosure Rules Are Coming. Here's How Companies Are Adapting.|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-disclosure-rules-are-coming-heres-how-companies-are-adapting-2973200c|access-date=April 28, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=May 18, 2023|title=Carbon Accounting Changes Could Lift Corporate Greenhouse-Gas Emissions|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-accounting-changes-could-lift-corporate-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2bfb141e|access-date=May 19, 2023}}}}

In April, Gensler testified before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on the climate disclosure rule proposal.{{cite news|last=Pisani|first=Bob|date=April 18, 2023|title=SEC's Gensler in congressional hot seat today over climate change and crypto|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/18/secs-gensler-set-for-congressional-grilling-on-climate-change-crypto.html|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite news|title=SEC Chair Testifies at House Oversight Hearing|date=April 18, 2023|publisher=C-SPAN|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?527459-1/sec-chair-testifies-house-oversight-hearing|access-date=April 24, 2023}} Later, in September, Gensler stated, in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, that agency staff had been reviewing the public comments on the climate disclosure rule proposal with a particular focus on Scope 3 reporting and reiterated that the proposed rule would apply only to public companies.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=September 12, 2023|title=SEC Chair Gensler Declines to Give Timeline for Final Climate Disclosure Rule|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-chair-gensler-declines-to-give-timeline-for-final-climate-disclosure-rule-bd7028e0|access-date=September 13, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Securities and Exchange Commission Oversight Hearing|date=September 12, 2023|publisher=C-SPAN|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?530313-1/securities-exchange-commission-oversight-hearing|access-date=September 13, 2023}}

In remarks made after a speech given at Yale Law School in February 2024, Gensler stated that the climate disclosure rule was being drafted to withstand judicial scrutiny. He referred to anticipated litigation over the rule as part of the rule-making process.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=February 13, 2024|title=SEC's Gensler Bracing for Lawsuits Over Climate Rule|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/secs-gensler-bracing-for-lawsuits-over-climate-rule-60165fec|access-date=May 29, 2024}}

In March, the SEC voted to issue the final rule on climate risk, climate risk management, and carbon footprint accounting.{{cite news|last=Patterson|first=Scott|date=March 6, 2024|title=SEC Approves Weakened Climate Disclosure Rule|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/sec-climate-disclosure-greenhouse-gases-d57de27c|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Iacurci|first=Greg|date=March 4, 2024|title=What the SEC climate disclosure rule may mean for investors|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/04/what-the-sec-climate-disclosure-rule-may-mean-for-investors.html|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (17 CFR Part 210, 229, 230, 232, 239, and 249 [Release Nos. 33–11275; 34–99678; File No. S7–10–22] RIN 3235–AM87) – The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors|date=March 28, 2024|journal=Federal Register|volume=89|issue=61|pages=21668–21921|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-03-28/pdf/2024-05137.pdf|access-date=May 29, 2024}} While the SEC final rule removed mandatory Scope 3 emissions reporting,{{cite news|last1=Khan|first1=Yusuf|last2=Vanderford|first2=Richard|date=March 6, 2024|title=The SEC Watered Down Its Climate Reporting Requirements. Here's What That Means for Companies.|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-sec-watered-down-its-climate-reporting-requirements-heres-what-that-means-for-companies-d3dd55b0|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Iacurci|first=Greg|date=March 6, 2024|title=What the SEC vote on climate disclosures means for investors|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/06/what-the-sec-vote-on-climate-disclosures-means-for-investors.html|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=March 21, 2024|title=How the SEC Climate Rule Won Over Vocal Opponents|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-sec-climate-rule-won-over-vocal-opponents-97a26a20|access-date=May 29, 2024}} more than 3,000 U.S. publicly traded companies were still required to disclose such emissions under European Union law. This also applied to companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue under California state law at the time of the SEC final rule approval.{{cite news|last=Clifford|first=Catherine|date=October 17, 2023|title=California lawmakers urge SEC to follow their lead in climate disclosure requirements|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/17/california-lawmakers-press-sec-to-include-scope-3-emissions.html|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Ellfeldt|first=Avery|date=October 17, 2023|title=U.S. companies scramble ahead of EU climate disclosure rules|website=E&E News|publisher=Politico, Axel Springer SE|url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/us-companies-scramble-ahead-of-eu-climate-disclosure-rules/|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Holger|first=Dieter|date=April 5, 2023|title=At Least 10,000 Foreign Companies to Be Hit by EU Sustainability Rules|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/at-least-10-000-foreign-companies-to-be-hit-by-eu-sustainability-rules-307a1406|access-date=May 29, 2024}} In the same month, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay of the rule's implementation in a lawsuit challenging the rule,{{cite news|last1=Cleveland-Peck|first1=Perry|last2=Tokar|first2=Dylan|date=March 18, 2024|title=U.S. Appeals Court Temporarily Halts SEC Climate-Disclosure Rules|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-appeals-court-temporarily-halts-sec-climate-disclosure-rules-456f2f4c|access-date=May 29, 2024}} and the SEC announced that it would stay implementation of the rule while legal challenges were consolidated before the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.{{cite news|last=Vanderford|first=Richard|date=April 4, 2024|title=SEC Accepts Pause on Its Climate Rule|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sec-accepts-pause-on-its-climate-rule-b2afe8d9|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite journal|title=SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (17 CFR Part 210, 229, 230, 232, 239, and 249 [Release Nos. 33–11280; 34–99908; File No. S7–10–22] RIN 3235–AM87) – The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors; Delay of Effective Date|date=April 12, 2024|journal=Federal Register|volume=89|issue=72|pages=25804–25805|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-04-12/pdf/2024-07648.pdf|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite web|title=National Legal & Policy Center, et al v. SEC 24-1685 — U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit|date=April 1, 2024|website=Justia|url=https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca8/24-1685|access-date=May 30, 2024}}

In February 2021, the Biden administration announced that it would steer $30 billion in farm aid from the Commodity Credit Corporation toward farmers implementing regenerative farming practices (e.g. carbon farming) to enhance carbon sequestration.{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=February 12, 2021|title=Biden's climate change strategy looks to pay farmers to curb carbon footprint|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/12/bidens-climate-change-plan-pay-farmers-to-cut-carbon-footprint.html|access-date=December 3, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Petrova|first=Magdalena|date=June 25, 2021|title=How capturing CO2 has become a new business for farmers|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/06/25/how-capturing-co2-has-become-a-new-business-for-farmers.html|access-date=December 3, 2022}} Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Biden later signed into law later that November, an additional $12 billion appropriation was made for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects.{{cite news|last=Watson|first=Sara Kiley|date=November 22, 2021|title=Biden's infrastructure act bets big on 3 types of 'green' energy tech|work=Popular Science|url=https://www.popsci.com/science/energy-investments-infrastructure-act/|access-date=March 24, 2023}}

In May 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $3.5 billion program funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create four large-scale regional direct air capture (DAC) hubs, each consisting of a network of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects.{{cite news|last=Budryk|first=Zack|date=May 19, 2022|title=Energy Department launches $3.5 billion carbon removal program|work=The Hill|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3494787-energy-department-launches-3-5-billion-carbon-removal-program/|access-date=July 8, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Calma|first=Justine|date=May 19, 2022|title=The Department of Energy to dole out $3.5 billion for carbon removal hubs|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/19/23131286/energy-department-3-5-billion-carbon-removal-hubs|access-date=July 18, 2022}} Under the CHIPS and Science Act that Biden signed into law later that August, a $1 billion appropriation was included to fund CDR research, development, and deployment.{{cite news|last=Rubin|first=Ben|date=October 25, 2022|title=Keep all carbon removal approaches on the table at COP27|work=The Hill|publisher=Nexstar Media Group|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/3703290-keep-all-carbon-removal-approaches-on-the-table-at-cop27/|access-date=March 24, 2023}}

Under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that Biden also signed into law in August 2022, a $20 billion appropriation was made to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for oversubscribed programs (including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program) to assist farmers with conservation practices that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration in soil and trees (and other climate-smart agricultural practices).{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Benji|date=August 16, 2022|title=Hidden inside the Inflation Reduction Act: $20 billion to help fix our farms|website=Vox|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2022/8/15/23301352/inflation-reduction-act-farms-climate-wildlife|access-date=March 24, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Inflation Reduction Act Investments in FPAC Programs|date=September 12, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture|url=https://www.farmers.gov/inflation-reduction-investments|access-date=March 24, 2023}} Additionally, the IRA authorized the creation of the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) Program, a $5 billion loan guarantee program for projects to repurpose shuttered fossil fuel energy production facilities for clean energy production or to update existing energy production facilities with emissions control technologies including CCS.{{cite web|title=Inflation Reduction Act of 2022|publisher=U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office|url=https://www.energy.gov/lpo/inflation-reduction-act-2022|access-date=March 27, 2023}} The IRA also increased the Section 45Q federal tax credit for CCS projects to $85 per metric ton of {{CO2}} sequestered from $50 per ton, as well as for DAC projects to $180 per metric ton of permanent CDR from $50 per ton. Meanwhile, the tax credit for the use of captured {{CO2}} for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) or other uses was increased to $60 per metric ton from $35 per metric ton for CCS and to $130 per metric ton from $35 per metric ton for DAC.{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Jinjoo|date=August 2, 2022|title=Inflation Bill's Got a Perk for Some Oil Companies|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-bills-got-a-perk-for-some-oil-companies-11659457695|access-date=March 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Verma|first1=Pranshu|last2=Halper|first2=Evan|date=August 12, 2022|title=The Inflation Reduction Act could push climate change tech into the future|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/08/12/climate-technology-spending-bill/|access-date=March 24, 2023}}{{cite news|last=Petrova|first=Magdalena|date=March 6, 2021|title=The big problem with capturing carbon is that it simply doesn't pay|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/03/06/the-big-problem-with-capturing-carbon-is-that-it-simply-doesnt-pay.html|access-date=December 8, 2022}}{{cite news|last=Brigham|first=Katie|date=June 28, 2022|title=Why Big Tech is pouring money into carbon removal|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/28/why-companies-like-stripe-meta-and-alphabet-are-behind-carbon-removal.html|access-date=July 6, 2022}}

In October 2022, the Global CCS Institute (of which the U.S. Department of Energy is a member organization) released a report on the global status of CCS projects. It stated that there were 13 operational projects, 68 projects in development, and 2 projects with suspended operations in the United States, among 61 new CCS projects that had been announced over the previous year and 196 projects that were operational or in development worldwide in total.{{cite news |last=Niiler |first=Eric |date=October 28, 2022 |title=Carbon-Capture Projects Are Taking Off. Here's How They Stash the Greenhouse Gas. |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/carbon-capture-projects-are-taking-off-heres-how-they-stash-the-greenhouse-gas-11666928082 |access-date=November 27, 2022}}{{cite report |title=Global Status of CCS 2022 |year=2022 |pages=7; 16–18; 53–62 |publisher=Global CCS Institute |url=https://status22.globalccsinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Global-Status-of-CCS-2022_Download.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2022}}{{cite report |title=Global Status of CCS 2022 Report: Fact Sheet |year=2022 |publisher=Global CCS Institute |url=https://status22.globalccsinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GCCSI_Global-Report-2022_Fact-Sheet.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2022}}

{{Main|Energy conservation in the United States}}

The executive order requiring federal agencies to cut emissions, issued on December 8, 2021, contained measures about energy efficiency (sections 205, 206, 605).{{cite web |title=Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/12/08/executive-order-on-catalyzing-clean-energy-industries-and-jobs-through-federal-sustainability/ |website=The White House |date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=12 January 2022}} By the end of that year, the Biden administration also reversed some of the rules established under Trump that reduced energy efficiency, but many of them remained in place.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Anna |title=Biden faces delay in udoing Trump war on dishwashers, driers and lightbulbs that made him look orange |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/01/09/energy-efficiency-climate-change-biden/ |access-date=12 January 2022 |agency=Washington Post |date=9 January 2022}}

The administration released unprecedented funding for energy efficiency and weatherization. The Weatherization Assistance Program alone gave $3.5 billion for the effort, resulting in 700,000 low-income households that increased energy efficiency and paid less for energy; $8.7 billion was spent through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The latter program primarily helped households with children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.

In June 2022, Biden announced a new initiative for increasing energy efficiency in buildings, thus reducing payments for energy from households at the same time. At least $225 million was scheduled to be spent on it.{{cite web |last1=Portuondo |first1=Nico |title=Biden using building codes against inflation, climate change |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/biden-using-building-codes-against-inflation-climate-change/ |website=Greenwire |date=June 2022 |access-date=3 June 2022}}

In February 2023, the United States Department of Energy proposed a set of new energy efficiency standards that, if implemented, would save users of different electric machines in America around $3,500,000,000 per year. It would also reduce carbon emissions, by the same amount emitted by 29,000,000 houses, by the year 2050.{{cite news |title=DOE Proposes Stronger Appliance Efficiency Standards |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/doe-appliance-efficiency-requirements.html |access-date=16 February 2023 |agency=Ecowatch |publisher=Climate Nexus |date=13 February 2023}}

In October of that year, the Senate, in a bipartisan vote, rejected a proposal that could hurt policies promoting energy efficiency in houses. An opponent of the proposal argued the policies can save a homeowner $15,000 on average.{{cite news |last1=Montalbano |first1=Vanessa |title=In Kentucky, coal is on the ballot. But not climate change. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/26/kentucky-coal-is-ballot-not-climate-change/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |agency=Washington Post |date=26 October 2023}}{{cite web |title=Housing, Energy, and Consumer Groups Applaud Senate Opposition to Raising Energy Prices for Americans |url=https://www.aceee.org/press-release/2023/10/housing-energy-and-consumer-groups-applaud-senate-opposition-raising-energy |website=ACEE |access-date=27 October 2023}} However, the amount of money expected to be saved was not uniform but largely depended on climate zone. Nonetheless, the report divided the country into 8 zones ranging from a very hot and humid climate (zone 1) to a subarctic and arctic climate (zone 8). Savings thus vary "from as low as $7,536 in Climate Zone 2, to a high of $46,836 in Climate Zone 8."{{cite book |title=FR–6271–N–01 Preliminary Determination: Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing |date=18 May 2023 |publisher=the Department of Housing and Urban Development |url=https://www.regulations.gov/document/HUD-2023-0034-0001 |access-date=27 October 2023}}

Biden's administration set a goal of protecting 30% of the land and the water of the U.S. In 2021, 12% of land and 26% of water were protected. The plan for achieving the target was called "America the Beautiful" and included many measures like expanding urban green spaces and collaboration with indigenous people.{{cite web |date=May 6, 2021 |title=Biden-Harris Administration Outlines "America the Beautiful" Initiative |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-outlines-america-beautiful-initiative |access-date=3 August 2021 |website=US department of the Interior}}{{cite news |date=17 July 2021 |title=Joe Biden's Monumental Environmental Gambit |work=The New York Times |agency=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/17/opinion/biden-climate-change.html |access-date=3 August 2021}} The initiative additionally included $1 billion in grants for community-based conservation and restoration projects.{{Cite web |title=Biden-Harris Administration Launches $1 Billion America the Beautiful Challenge to Support and Accelerate Locally Led Conservation and Restoration Projects {{!}} CEQ |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/ceq/news-updates/2022/04/11/biden-harris-administration-launches-1-billion-america-the-beautiful-challenge-to-support-and-accelerate-locally-led-conservation-and-restoration-projects/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The White House |date=April 11, 2022 |language=en-US}}

In October 2021, President Biden announced the expansion of the Bears Ears National Monument, the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, thus restoring the original areas and protections that were reduced by President Trump.{{cite web |last1=Judid |first1=Donald |date=October 8, 2021 |title=Biden undoes Trump's cuts to Bears Ears, Grand Staircase–Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine national monuments |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/08/politics/joe-biden-national-monuments-expansion/index.html |access-date=March 16, 2022 |publisher=CNN}} He also created the Camp Hale–Continental Divide National Monument in 2022, as well as the Avi Kwa Ame, Castner Range, and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monuments in 2023{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes New Action to Conserve and Restore America's Lands and Waters |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/21/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-new-action-to-conserve-and-restore-americas-lands-and-waters/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} and the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-07 |title=FACT SHEET: President Biden Establishes Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in California |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/07/fact-sheet-president-biden-establishes-chuckwalla-and-sattitla-highlands-national-monuments-in-california/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} He also expanded the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments in 2024.

In March 2023, Biden directed the Department of Commerce to designate the Pacific Remote Islands as a National Marine Sanctuary, thus expanding the protections of Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. The department also designated the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in 2024.

Biden's administration launched a plan for protecting the oceans called the Ocean Climate Action Plan. It has included measures for protecting and restoring many marine and coastal ecosystems, thus mitigating climate change with the help of these ecosystems and helping communities depending on them.{{cite news |last1=Voyles Pulver |first1=Dinah |last2=Rice |first2=Doyle |title=Climate advocates say the oceans are overlooked in climate change. Biden's new action plan would change that. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/03/21/president-biden-ocean-climate-action-plan/11515889002/ |access-date=5 April 2023 |agency=USA today |date=21 March 2021}}

According to a report from the Center for American Progress, the Biden administration reached a record in conservation. In 3 years, it conserved or began the process of conserving more than 24 millions acres of public land. In 2023 alone, more than 12.5 million acres of public land became protected. Efforts done together with Indigenous peoples were also recognized, as 200 agreements of co-stewardship with them were signed in 2023 alone.{{cite web |last1=Hananel |first1=Sam |title=The Biden Administration Has Reached Conservation Records in 2023 |url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-biden-administration-has-reached-conservation-records-in-2023/ |website=Center for American progress |access-date=24 December 2023}}

In April 2024, Biden unveiled a plan to protect and restore natural water sources—3.2 million hectares of wetlands and 161,000 km of rivers and streams.{{cite news |title=Biden sets new target to protect vast US water sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-sets-new-target-protect-vast-us-water-sources-2024-04-23/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=Reuters |date=23 April 2024}} In the same month, the Interior Department issued a new rule that would allow 245 million acres of federal property to be leased for conservation purposes. The rule specifically resembled the way oil companies leased land for drilling, specifically by raising conservation, recreation, and renewable energy development to the same legal status that such drilling has enjoyed. The rule was intended to help protect public lands from the impacts of climate change and development. Some Republicans have ridiculed the move as a "land grab" and talked of a legal challenge.Maxine Joselow, "The U.S. just changed how it manages a tenth of its land: The Interior Department rule puts conservation and clean energy development on par with drilling, mining and resource extraction on federal lands for the first time," The Washington Post (April 18, 2024) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/18/biden-public-lands-conservation-rule/?utm_campaign=wp_the7&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_the7&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3d71e46%2F66224f4d04823c327d7d002b%2F596b40329bbc0f403f8de828%2F46%2F95%2F66224f4d04823c327d7d002b online]{{cite news |last1=Joselow |first1=Maxine |title=The U.S. just changed how it manages a tenth of its land |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/18/biden-public-lands-conservation-rule/ |access-date=21 April 2024 |agency=Washington Post |date=18 April 2024}}

In 2025, President Biden permanently banned oil and gas drilling on 625 million acres of federal waters.{{Cite web |last=Egan |first=Matt |date=2025-01-06 |title=Biden permanently bans offshore drilling in 625 million acres of ocean, making a Trump reversal difficult {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/06/business/biden-offshore-drilling-ban-trump/index.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=CNN |language=en}}

The Biden administration showed support for the Line 3 pipeline owned by the Canadian corporation Enbridge.{{cite news |title=Biden Administration Backs Oil Sands Pipeline Project |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/24/climate/line-3-pipeline-biden.html |work=The New York Times |date=July 24, 2021}} However, the pipeline still faced significant resistance as of September 2021.{{cite news |title='Squad' members call on Biden to shut down Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/570779-squad-members-call-on-biden-to-shut-down-line-3-pipeline-in |work=The Hill |date=September 3, 2021}}

In January of that year, President Biden halted further development of the Keystone Pipeline by way of an executive order which also directed agencies to review and reverse more than 100 Trump administration actions on the environment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/executive-actions-biden/index.html|title=Biden targets Trump's legacy with first-day executive actions|first=Eric|last=Bradner|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 20, 2021|work=CNN}} In June 2021, the pipeline project was canceled. It was considered an environmental threat by environmentalists, indigenous peoples, and the Biden administration.{{cite news |last1=Davenport |first1=Coral |title=The Keystone XL pipeline project has been terminated. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/09/business/keystone-xl-pipeline-canceled.html |access-date=11 June 2021 |agency=The New York Times |date=9 June 2021}}

In January 2021, Biden took some actions to improve the link between science and the policies of his administration on environmental issues. Actions included improving the environmental reviews of big projects before they were approved according to the NEPA, improving the function of the Environmental Protection Agency, and reestablishing a scientific body to calculate the social cost of all greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide. He also ordered a stop to the oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Biden additionally stated that the voices of indigenous peoples should be taken into consideration in the process of approving projects. He also began the process of installing standards for methane emissions.{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Andrew |title=Consequential Biden Actions Nobody Is Talking About |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/biden-executive-orders-science-public-health-2650130418.html |access-date=29 January 2021 |agency=Ecowatch |date=25 January 2021}}

In October of that year, the Biden administration filed an application for a mineral withdrawal which would put a hold on the development of a copper mine near Ely, Minnesota while the environmental impacts of mining were studied. The proposed mine is located on the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, an area that has been popular for canoeing, fishing, and hiking and is among the country's most visited wilderness areas. The Obama administration had launched a similar study, but 24-weeks into the 28-week study, the newly elected Trump administration ended it, thus allowing the plans for the mining operation to continue. The completed study could lead to a 20-year ban on mining upstream from the BWCAW.{{cite web |last1=Karnowski |first1=Steve |title=Biden Administration Delivers Serious Blow to Minnesota Mine |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/minnesota/articles/2021-10-20/biden-administration-delivers-serious-blow-to-minnesota-mine |website=U.S.News |access-date=November 21, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Karnowski |first1=Steve |title=Minnesota lets public weigh in on adequacy of mining rules |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/national/minnesota-lets-public-weigh-in-on-adequacy-of-mining-rules/article_e4ef142a-5cc5-5fe9-b5a3-0fce735f2422.html |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |access-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122013058/https://www.stltoday.com/news/national/minnesota-lets-public-weigh-in-on-adequacy-of-mining-rules/article_e4ef142a-5cc5-5fe9-b5a3-0fce735f2422.html |url-status=dead }}

In April 2022, the Biden administration restored components of an environmental law (NEPA) from the 1970s that were abolished by Trump. The components required consideration of climate impacts and local community interests before approving major projects.{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Lisa |title=Biden Restores Climate to Landmark Environmental Law, Reversing Trump |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/climate/biden-climate-nepa-trump.html |access-date=26 April 2022 |agency=The New York Times |date=19 April 2022}}

In January 2024, Biden's administration announced a pause in the approval of projects linked to the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries which were not members of free trade agreements with the U.S. until the environmental impacts were fully reviewed. As a result, a number of projects linked with very high amounts of greenhouse gas emissions could be canceled. Subsequently, the climate movement hailed the decision, and a planned protest of environmentalists was canceled. However, Republicans and the fossil fuel industry showed support for the threatened projects, stating they would be needed for the U.S. economy and security, especially due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (The U.S. is currently the biggest producer and consumer of oil and gas and, recently, became the biggest gas exporter to European countries which want to stop using Russian gas.) Some scientists{{who|date=July 2024}} say LNG is better than coal, while others{{who|date=August 2024}} argue it is worse due to high methane emissions. Ultimately, however, the U.S. LNG export capacity is expected to be twice as big in 2027 due to already approved projects.{{cite news |title=Will Biden's Temporary Pause of Gas Export Projects Win Back Young Voters? |url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26012024/todays-climate-biden-trump-pause-lng-gas-export-young-voters/ |access-date=2 February 2024 |agency=Inside climate news |date=26 January 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Irfan |first1=Umair |title=The great American natural gas reckoning is upon us |url=https://www.vox.com/climate/24055711/lng-export-pause-biden-liquefied-natural-gas-climate-change |access-date=2 February 2024 |agency=Vox |date=30 January 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Milman |first1=Oliver |title=Biden hits pause on natural gas projects amid plans for carbon 'mega bombs' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/26/biden-delays-cp2-louisiana-lng-export-project |access-date=2 February 2024 |agency=The Guardian |date=26 January 2024}}

In July 2024, after 16 Republican-governed states sued, Judge James D. Cain Jr. issued an injunction on the suspension of LNG export regulatory approvals.{{cite web | author=The Associated Press | title=A judge sides with states over Biden and allows gas export projects to move forward | website=NPR | date=July 2, 2024 | url=https://www.npr.org/2024/07/02/g-s1-7645/judge-sides-with-16-states-putting-on-pause-bidens-delay-of-consideration-of-gas-export-projects | access-date=July 3, 2024}}

While in hospice care in his home, former President Jimmy Carter contacted President Joe Biden and court officials, via amicus brief, to discourage the construction of a gravel roadway in Alaska on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Biden agreed with Carter, and the project was dismissed in 2023 by the Department of the Interior.https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/12/president-jimmy-carter-death-100-environmental-legacy-conservation-solar-energy-alaskan-national-wildlife-refuge/

One week after becoming president, Biden signed several executive orders aimed at combatting climate change and protecting the environment. He ordered the Interior Secretary to stop new oil and gas drilling in federal lands and water; he also ordered a review of existing projects. However, these pauses were only temporary and didn't stop drilling permanently.{{cite news |last1=Rott |first1=Nathan |last2=Detrow |first2=Scott |last3=Wise |first3=Alana |title=Biden Hits 'Pause' On Oil And Gas Leasing On Public Lands And Waters |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/president-biden-takes-office/2021/01/27/960941799/biden-to-pause-oil-and-gas-leasing-on-public-lands-and-waters |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=27 January 2021}} Another order established a target of protecting 30% of United States lands and waters by 2030; it also set in motion the creation of a plan for climate financing and a climate target for the U.S. Biden additionally signed a presidential memorandum establishing a process for documenting any instances in which "improper political interference" interfered with research or distorted data.{{Cite web|last=Malakoff|first=David|date=2021-01-27|title=Biden orders sweeping review of government science integrity policies|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/new-biden-scientific-integrity-policy|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en}}

In response to reviews, the Interior Department stopped many of the oil and gas drilling projects, took measures for the protection of wild animals, and restored national monuments. It also began preparing a review of the entire oil and gas leasing program in the U.S.{{cite news |last1=Friedman |first1=Lisa |date=2 March 2021 |title=Reversing Trump, Interior Department Moves Swiftly on Climate Change |work=The New York Times |agency=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/climate/biden-interior-department-haaland.html |access-date=7 March 2021}} However, the Biden administration did show support for an oil drilling project, known as Willow, which had been approved by the Trump administration. This decision was criticized by environmentalists.{{cite news |last1=Milman |first1=Oliver |title=Biden officials condemned for backing Trump-era Alaska drilling project |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/27/biden-administration-alaska-oil-gas-drilling-project |access-date=30 May 2021 |agency=The Guardian |date=27 May 2021}}

In early June 2021, the Interior Department suspended all oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This national wildlife refuge includes around 20 million acres where snowy owls, caribou, and other endangered wildlife live.{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kaitlin |title=Biden Suspends Oil Leases in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge While Supporting Drilling Elsewhere in Alaska |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/biden-arctic-oil-drilling-leases-2653208989.html |access-date=6 June 2021 |agency=Ecowatch |date=2 June 2021}} Days later, a federal court issued a temporary injunction against the Interior Department action, pending litigation filed by more than a dozen states.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/15/politics/oil-gas-lease-pause-biden-administration/index.html|title=Federal court temporarily blocks Biden administration's oil and gas lease pause|author=Gregory Wallace|website=CNN|date=June 16, 2021 }}

In 2021, attorneys general from Republican states successfully sued to lift the suspension that Biden had placed on the selling of federal gas and oil leases. On September 17, energy companies, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell, bid $192 million for drilling rights on federal gas and oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. In November 2021, it was reported that the Biden administration was preparing to lease around 80 million acres to gas and oil drilling companies. More than 250 indigenous, social justice, and environmental groups wrote a letter to the Biden administration asking him to keep his promise to end new leases on public waters and lands and stop the impending lease which they believed "makes a mockery" of the COP26 climate commitments. The lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico was further criticized after the Department of Justice debunked the justification that the sale was legally required by the June 2021 ruling which blocked the pause on oil leases.{{cite news |title='Huge Victory' as Judge Blocks Biden's Oil Lease Sale in Gulf of Mexico |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/01/28/huge-victory-judge-blocks-bidens-oil-lease-sale-gulf-mexico |access-date=28 January 2022 |work=Common Dreams |date=28 January 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Frazin |first1=Rachel |title=Court nixes offshore drilling leases auctioned by Biden administration|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/591759-court-nixes-offshore-drilling-leases-auctioned-by-biden |website=The Hill |date=January 28, 2022 |access-date=January 28, 2022}}

In January 2022, a federal judge remanded the lease auction back to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for relying on a distorted Trump-era environmental impact assessment.Lauren Wollack et al. Press release. (27 January 2022). "Court Finds Massive Offshore Oil Lease Sale in Gulf Based on Faulty Legal Analysis". [https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2022/court-finds-massive-offshore-oil-lease-sale-in-gulf-based-on-faulty-legal-analysis Earthjustice website] Retrieved 28 January 2022.Ben Geman. (27 January 2022). "Judge nixes Gulf of Mexico oil leases in climate-focused ruling". [https://news.yahoo.com/judge-nixes-biden-admins-gulf-031723368.html Yahoo News website] Retrieved 28 January 2022. The administration also proposed another round of gas and oil lease sales in 2022 in the states of Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and other western states.{{cite web |last1=Dutton |first1=Jack |title=Biden Admin Set to Auction Off Over 80 Million Acres to Oil and Gas Drilling Companies |url=https://www.newsweek.com/biden-admin-set-auction-off-over-80-million-acres-offshore-drilling-1649242 |website=Newsweek |date=November 15, 2021 |access-date=November 24, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Companies bid $192 million in 1st Gulf oil sale under Biden |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/nov/17/us-holds-huge-crude-sale-in-gulf-coming-off-climate-pledges/#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Interior%20Department%20on%20Wednesday%2C%20Nov.%2017%2C,that%20rely%20on%20cuts%20in%20fossil%20fuel%20emissions. |website=The Columbian |access-date=June 25, 2021}}

Later, in February, the Biden administration suspended any further oil and gas leases on public lands. The decision came after a Trump-appointed judge reversed the social cost of carbon of $51 per ton—the figure established by Obama and restored by Biden—back to $7 per ton which had been Trump's cost estimate. The reversal was a result of a suit by 10 Republican attorneys general.{{cite news |last1=Visser |first1=Nick |date=21 February 2022 |title=U.S. Freezes New Oil And Gas Projects Amid GOP Suit Over Social Cost Of Emissions |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-new-oil-gas-drilling_n_62131757e4b0f93b261a9bb0 |access-date=21 February 2022 |agency=Huffington Post}}

In May 2022, the administration abolished three leases in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. One of the reasons was "a lack of industry interest".{{cite news |last1=Daly |first1=Matthew |title=Biden cancels offshore oil lease sale in Cook Inlet citing lack of interest |url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2022/05/12/biden-cancels-offshore-oil-lease-sale-in-cook-inlet-citing-lack-of-interest/ |access-date=22 May 2022 |agency=Alaska Public Media |publisher=Associated Press |date=12 May 2022}}

{{See also|Renewable energy in the United States}}In his proposed 2022 budget,{{Update inline|date=January 2023}} the Biden administration proposed a $10 billion investment in clean energy research and development—an increase of 30%. The budget also proposed $2 billion to be invested in green energy projects while also setting aside reserves of $6.5 billion to lend to rural communities in support of additional green energy, power storage, and transmission projects. Biden also ordered the amount of energy produced from offshore wind turbines to be doubled by 2030.

In April 2023, the Biden administration announced that it would make $450 million in funding available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for clean energy demonstration projects in coal mining communities to convert current and former mines into clean energy projects. It also announced $16 million in funding to the University of North Dakota and West Virginia University to create design studies for a full-scale refinery facility to extract and separate rare-earth elements and other minerals (including those needed in electric vehicle batteries) from coal ash, acid mine drainage, and other mine waste.{{cite news|last=Kinery|first=Emma|date=April 4, 2023|title=Biden administration pushes to revitalize coal communities with clean energy projects|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/biden-releases-plan-to-revitalize-coal-communities-with-clean-energy.html|access-date=April 4, 2023}}{{cite report|title=FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Clean Energy Projects to Revitalize Energy Communities, Support Coal Workers, and Reduce Reliance on Competitors Like China|date=April 4, 2023|publisher=White House Office|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/04/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-clean-energy-projects-to-revitalize-energy-communities-support-coal-workers-and-reduce-reliance-on-competitors-like-china/|access-date=April 4, 2023}}

In May 2024, the Biden administration doubled tariffs on solar cells imported from China. it also more than tripled tariffs on lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries imported from China.{{Cite web |last1=Boak |first1=Josh |last2=Hussein |first2=Fatima |last3=Wiseman |first3=Paul |last4=Tang |first4=Didi |date=2024-05-14 |title=Biden hikes tariffs on Chinese EVs, solar cells, steel, aluminum — and snipes at Trump |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-china-tariffs-electric-vehicles-evs-solar-2024ba735c47e04a50898a88425c5e2c |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=AP News |language=en}} The increased tariffs were to be phased in over a period of three years.

{{See also|Nuclear energy policy of the United States}}

$6.6 billion was provided in the new infrastructure law to keep older nuclear power plants from being prematurely decommissioned. Biden initiatives also fully funded two new reactor demonstration projects, X-energy and TerraPower.Staff (13 August 2021). "Senate passes infrastructure bill". [https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-Senate-passes-infrastructure-bill World Nuclear News website] Retrieved 14 January 2022.

In 2024, with overwhelming majorities, Congress passed S. 870, containing the ADVANCE Act, which directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to improve its assessments of new nuclear technology and fuels, cuts regulatory approval costs for advanced reactor designs, creates a grant prize competition for deployment of Generation IV reactors, and streamlines Energy Department export controls for nuclear technology.{{cite web | title=US Senate passes legislation to speed nuclear deployment : Regulation & Safety | website=World Nuclear News | date=June 20, 2024 | url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-Senate-passes-ADVANCE-Act | access-date=June 22, 2024}}

The Biden administration has delivered a tax plan to Congress that aims to start winding back fossil fuel subsidies by replacing the subsidies with incentives to start producing green energy. It was estimated that ending tax subsidies for those companies could save the American taxpayer $121 billion over the course of the next decade.{{Cite web|date=June 1, 2021|first1=Susan |last1=Casey-Lefkowitz |first2=Sujatha|last2=Bergen|title=Biden Budget Eliminates Host of Fossil Fuel Subsidies|url=https://www.nrdc.org/experts/sujatha-bergen/market-warping-oilgas-subsidies-way-out-biden-budget|access-date=2021-07-01|website=NRDC|language=en}}

Biden also stated his ambition to make the U.S. power sector completely free of fossil fuels by 2035, as well as his intention to bring a law to Congress with a legal commitment to make the grid 80% clean by 2030.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-26|title=White House pushing for 80% clean U.S. power grid by 2030, source says|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/26/white-house-pushing-for-80percent-clean-us-power-grid-by-2030.html|access-date=2021-07-01|website=CNBC|language=en}} Biden also made a commitment to ensure that all federal vehicles were electric, and in a series of executive orders at the beginning of his presidency, Biden ordered an increase in the production of renewable energy on federal lands and water, the creation of the Civilian Climate Corps, and a mandate making the fossil fuel companies responsible for repairing faults leading to environmental damage. As a part of a commitment to environmental justice, Biden also stated that 40% of all climate investments would be sent to the most historically vulnerable communities, after which he created a special body for dealing with the issue: the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council.{{cite news |last1=Rosane |first1=Olivia |title=Biden Signs Sweeping Executive Orders on Climate and Science |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/joe-biden-climate-crisis-orders-2650167632.html |access-date=31 January 2021 |agency=Ecowatch |date=28 January 2021}}

{{See also|Deforestation in the United States}}

On the first day of his presidency, the Biden administration ordered a broad review of Trump-era policies pertaining to wildlife in the United States, including the gutting of the Migratory Birds Treaty Act and Trump's decision to strip a number of animals, including gray wolves and the northern spotted owl, of their protections under the Endangered Species Act.{{Cite web|title=Biden Administration Announces Major Steps to Protect Climate, Wildlife|url=https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/biden-administration-announces-major-steps-protect-climate-wildlife-2021-01-20/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Center for Biological Diversity|language=en}}

In June 2021, the Biden administration announced that it was beginning the process of restoring and strengthening wildlife protections that had been loosened under the Trump Administration,{{Cite news |first1=Katy |last1=Stech Ferek |first2=Timothy |last2=Puko |date=2021-06-04 |title=Biden Administration Moves to Restore Protections for Endangered Wildlife |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-administration-moves-to-restore-protections-for-endangered-wildlife-11622823061 |access-date=2021-07-06 |issn=0099-9660}} mainly in regards to the weakening of protections granted to endangered animals under the Endangered Species Act and the extent to which their habitats would be protected.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-05 |title=Biden Moves To Restore Endangered Species Protections Eroded By Trump |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-endangered-species-protections_n_60bbc669e4b0b297f1bb9a47 |access-date=2021-07-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}

In June 2022, the Biden administration restored a rule that broadened the definition of a “critical habitat” and allowed more protection of endangered species.{{cite web |title=Biden Administration Rescinds Trump Rule Limiting Habitat Protections for Endangered Species |url=https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/biden-administration-rescinds-trump-rule-limiting-habitat-protections-for-endangered-species-2022-06-23/ |website=Center for Biological Diversity |access-date=19 October 2022 |language=en}} This reversed a rule that Trump had put into place right before leaving office; it limited the definition of a “critical habitat” to areas that could have sustained endangered species at the time, excluding places that could potentially sustain them in the future.{{cite journal |title=Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat |journal=Federal Register |date=December 16, 2020 |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/16/2020-27693/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-regulations-for-listing-endangered-and-threatened |access-date=19 October 2022}}

In November 2021, Biden promised to end and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030 via the COP26 climate summit's first major agreement.{{cite news |title=COP26: World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59088498 |work=BBC News |date=2 November 2021}}{{cite news |title=Over 100 global leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/over-100-global-leaders-pledge-end-deforestation-by-2030-2021-11-01/ |work=Reuters |date=3 November 2021}} In the same month, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an advisory to financial institutions to increase scrutiny of financial transactions potentially tied to wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal fishing. Such an advisory was the first in the agency's history intended to prevent environmental crimes.{{cite news|last=Tokar|first=Dylan|date=November 18, 2021|title=FinCEN Asks Banks to Watch for Transactions Linked to Environmental Crimes|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fincen-asks-banks-to-watch-for-transactions-linked-to-environmental-crimes-11637275017|access-date=April 28, 2023}}

The transportation sector has been the biggest emitter of CO₂ in America,{{Cite web|date=2015-12-29|title=Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions|url=https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions|access-date=2021-06-20|website=US EPA|language=en}} and reducing transportation emissions would require a large-scale transition to carbon-free transportation. Biden thus promised to give all cities with populations greater than 100,000 people quality public transportation with low carbon options. United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was directed to work toward achieving the goals, but nothing was put into action as of June 2021. Biden also declared plans to increase the use of "zero carbon" transportation like cycling and walking.{{cite web |last1=Foote |first1=Cecily |title=What Do The Election Results Mean For Biking and Walking? |url=https://www.bikeleague.org/content/what-do-election-results-mean-biking-and-walking |website=The League of American Bicyclists |date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202122541/https://bikeleague.org/content/what-do-election-results-mean-biking-and-walking |url-status=dead }}

In August 2021, the EPA proposed new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards for model years 2023 through 2026. The 2023 target would call for a 9.8% reduction over the 2022 target, with subsequent year-over-year reductions of approximately 5%.{{cite web |title=Proposed Rule to Revise Existing National GHG Emissions Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks Through Model Year 2026 |date=July 16, 2021 |url=https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/proposed-rule-revise-existing-national-ghg-emissions |access-date=6 August 2021}}

In December 2021, new greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles were adopted. They were 6% stronger than the original proposition made in August and were estimated to prevent the emission of 3.1 billion tons of {{CO2}} into the atmosphere. The benefits of the new standards surpassed the cost by $190 billion, including savings on fuel and reduction of the impacts of climate change and air pollution.{{cite news |last1=Rosane |first1=Olivia |title=Reversing Trump Rollback, Biden's EPA Announces Historically Ambitious Vehicle Emissions Standards |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/epa-vehicle-emissions-standards-2656084640.html |access-date=12 January 2022 |agency=Ecowatch |date=21 December 2021}} According to the EPA, the reduction was "equivalent to more than half the total U.S. {{CO2}} emissions in 2019".{{cite news |title=Biden admin announces tougher fuel mileage standards |url=https://www.axios.com/biden-epa-fuel-emission-rules-climate-change-736f731f-c9b7-4823-9a93-3b342247a3b4.html |access-date=12 January 2022 |agency=Axios |date=20 December 2021}} The rules were also intended to cut emissions from passenger cars and trucks (17% of the US greenhouse gas emissions) by 5%–10% in the years 2023–2026.{{cite news |first=Matthew|last=Daly|title=Biden boosts fuel-economy standards to fight climate change |url=https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-fuel-economy-vehicle-mileage-standards-348bb3368036eb504f3b138a680739c7 |access-date=12 January 2022 |agency=APN |date=20 December 2021}}

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes:

• $7.5 billion to build a national network of electric vehicle chargers
• $5 billion for a "Clean School Bus Program"
• $350 million for new wildlife crossings and corridors pilot project
• $250 million for an electric or low-emissions ferry pilot program
• $250 million to reduce truck idling at ports

Additionally, Biden's administration promoted transit-oriented development, walkability, cycling, and mixed-use development, among other developments, by creating community-based transport hubs. This was done mainly in low-income neighborhoods. $1 billion was also allocated to spend on reconnecting neighborhoods.

In April 2023, the EPA proposed new tailpipe emissions limits which the agency estimated could require 67% of all new automobiles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2032, thus surpassing the previous commitment by the Biden administration under Executive Order 14037 for electric cars to make up 50 percent of new automobile sales by 2030.{{cite news|last=Newburger|first=Emma|date=April 12, 2023|title=EPA proposes auto pollution limits to aggressively boost electric vehicle sales|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/12/epa-proposes-auto-pollution-limits-to-aggressively-boost-ev-sales-.html|access-date=April 12, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Ken|last2=Felton|first2=Ryan|date=April 12, 2023|title=EPA Seeks to Boost EVs With Toughest-Ever Rules on Tailpipe Emissions|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-seeks-to-boost-evs-with-toughest-ever-rules-on-tailpipe-emissions-5658217d|access-date=April 12, 2023}}{{cite news|last1=Ferek|first1=Katy Stech|last2=Foldy|first2=Ben|date=August 5, 2021|title=Biden Toughens Fuel-Efficiency Standards, Challenges Auto Makers to Sell More EVs|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-set-electric-vehicle-sales-target-of-50-by-2030-11628154000|access-date=April 12, 2023}}

In November 2023, a new federal rule was adopted. It required local authorities to measure GHG emissions from transportation and prepare a plan for how to reduce them with concrete targets February 1, 2024; progress would be measured every 2 years. Support of EV use, walking and cycling, and prioritizing maintenance of existing roads instead of building new ones, among other efforts, were proposed as measures to achieve the needed reduction. Some states cheered the new rule, while others opposed it. The Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt expressed hope for more support, stating that climate disasters were becoming more frequent. He also stated that his agency received requests for help worth around $1 billion due to such climate disasters in a single year.{{cite news |last1=Duncan |first1=Ian |title=States must target transportation carbon emission cuts under new federal rule |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/11/22/carbon-emission-cuts-rule/ |access-date=27 November 2023 |agency=Washington Post |date=22 November 2023}}

Biden pledged to cut emissions from the agriculture sector in the US by 50% by 2030.

In February 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture begun to implement a program designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector in the U.S.; by then, the sector accounted for over 10% of the overall emissions. Additionally, the agriculture sector in the U.S. had already heavily suffered from different impacts of climate change.{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |date=7 February 2021 |title=Feds will spend $1 billion to spur farmers and ranchers to fight climate change |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/07/usda-to-spend-1-billion-on-agriculture-projects-tackling-climate-change.html |access-date=10 February 2022 |agency=CNBC}}{{cite news |last1=Peikes |first1=Katie |date=8 February 2022 |title=USDA announces $1 billion to fund projects to help fight climate change |url=https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-08/usda-announces-1-billion-to-fund-projects-to-help-fight-climate-change |access-date=10 February 2022 |agency=Kansas City Public Radio}} The program included $1 billion in spending on methods like no-till farming, crop rotation, carbon capture and storage, manure management, and rotational grazing. The program also included measures regarding forests.

In October 2023, the Senate approved $8.5 million in funding for urban agriculture.{{cite web |last1=PRAKASH |first1=NIDHI |title=Senate votes to restore urban agriculture funds |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2023/10/26/senate-votes-to-restore-urban-agriculture-funds-00123651 |website=Politico |access-date=27 October 2023}}

Biden delivered $27 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (funded by the Inflation Reduction Act) to eight environmental non-governmental organizations. The Fund's investments are supposed to reduce the CO₂ emissions of the US by 40 million tonnes per year while delivering 70% of the benefits to low-income communities. The money was allowed to be disbursed to tens of thousands of different projects such as, for instance, making energy efficient houses.{{cite news |last1=Joselow |first1=Maxine |title=America's new high-risk, high-reward $20 billion climate push |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/04/04/epa-greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund/ |access-date=7 April 2024 |agency=Washington Post |date=4 April 2024}}{{cite news |title=EPA head Regan defends $20B green bank: 'I feel really good about this program' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-head-regan-defends-20b-green-bank-feel-108896740 |access-date=7 April 2024 |agency=ABC News |date=5 April 2024}}

The administration spent many efforts on enhancing cooperation with the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, among others, by creating a consultation mechanism for assuring their voice would be heard for environmental justice initiatives. Different tribes and villages received help via protection from the different effects of climate change.

The Biden administration provided a total of $120 million to support tribes impacted by the effects of climate change. The funding consisted of $25 million from the annual allocations for fiscal year 2023, $72 million from the Inflation Reduction Act, and $23 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program covered a variety of initiatives including planning for climate adaptation, drought management, wildland fire mitigation measures, community-driven relocation, and management of the ocean and coastline.{{Cite web |title=Biden administration announces $120M for tribes hit by climate change's effects |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/21/biden-adminsitration-native-american-tribes-climate-change-impact/ |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=opb |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2022-11-30 |title=U. S. to Pay Millions to Move Tribes Threatened by Climate Change |work=The New York Times |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/climate/native-tribes-relocate-climate.html |access-date=2023-07-28 |last1=Flavelle |first1=Christopher }}

On October 8, 2021, Joe Biden delivered the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day, providing the most substantial boost yet to efforts to redirect the federal holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus toward an appreciation of Indigenous people. On the same day, the Biden administration unveiled its plans to restore land for two significant national monuments in Utah which Trump had previously stripped of protections. One of them, Bears Ears National Monument, is situated on what Indigenous tribes recognize as sacred ground.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-09 |title=President Biden signs proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day |url=https://www.today.com/news/biden-first-president-mark-indigenous-peoples-day-t233788 |access-date=2023-07-28 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}

File:John Kerry and Ruslan Edelgeriyev in Moscow (1).jpg (right), U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and his Russian counterpart Ruslan Edelgeriyev in Moscow on July 12, 2021]]

Upon his first hours in office, President Biden signed an executive order bringing the United States back into the Paris Climate Agreement; President Trump had announced the country's withdrawal in 2017.{{Cite news|date=2020-11-04|title=Climate change: US formally withdraws from Paris agreement|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54797743|access-date=2021-07-20}} The move was welcomed by environmental groups and by the Union of Concerned Scientists.{{cite news|last1=Sommer|first1=Lauren|date=20 January 2021|title=Biden Moves Quickly On Climate Change, Reversing Trump Rollbacks|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958854421/biden-moves-quickly-on-climate-change-reversing-trump-rollbacks|access-date=20 January 2021}}{{cite news|last1=Volcovici|first1=Valerie|last2=Hunnicutt|first2=Trevor|date=20 January 2021|title=Biden set to rejoin Paris climate accord, impose curbs on U.S. oil industry Author of the article|publisher=Financial Times|url=https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/biden-set-to-rejoin-paris-climate-accord-impose-curbs-on-u-s-oil-industry-5|access-date=20 January 2021}}

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, congratulated Biden, stating that with the U.S. rejoining the agreement, all the countries responsible for two-thirds of the global greenhouse gas emission made pledges to become carbon neutral; without the United States, it had been only half.{{cite web |title=Secretary-General welcomes US return to Paris Agreement on Climate Change |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082602 |website=UN News |date=January 20, 2021 |publisher=United Nations |access-date=22 January 2021}} President of France Emmanuel Macron congratulated Biden saying, 'Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!'

In February 2021, The United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement. Speaking about the occasion, John Kerry mentioned the urgent need to act on climate change in the next 10 years, the impact that climate change would have on the future, and the impacts that already had, such as the latest extreme cold events in the U.S. that, in his opinion, were "related to climate because the polar vortex penetrates further south because of the weakening of the jet stream related to warming." This opinion has been shared by many climate scientists.{{cite news |last1=Berardelli |first1=Jeff |title=Climate change and record cold: What's behind the arctic extremes in Texas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-texas-winter-storms-arctic-cold/ |access-date=22 February 2021 |agency=CBC News |date=20 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Finnegan |first1=Conor |title='The decisive decade': Biden climate envoy John Kerry sounds alarm as US rejoins Paris climate accord |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/decisive-decade-biden-climate-envoy-john-kerry-sounds/story?id=76002336 |access-date=21 February 2021 |agency=ABC News |date=19 February 2021}}

One week after he became president, Biden also began the process of creating a special plan for providing financial help for low-income countries in addressing issues related to climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

In February 2021, Biden issued an order to begin the process of identification of climate refugees and finding ways to help them.{{cite web |last1=Aton |first1=Adam |title=Biden Pushes U.S.—and the World—to Help Climate Migrants |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/biden-pushes-u-s-and-the-world-to-help-climate-migrants/ |website=Scientific American |access-date=18 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Lo |first1=Joe |title=Biden orders adviser to explore options for resettling climate migrants |url=https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/02/08/biden-orders-adviser-explore-options-resettling-climate-migrants/ |access-date=18 February 2021 |agency=Climate Home News |date=8 February 2021}}

The Biden administration also urged China to speed up its commitment to becoming carbon neutral, with John Kerry stating that China's pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 was "not good enough".{{cite news |title=Biden administration to unveil more climate policies, urges China to toughen emissions target |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-climate-change-biden-emissions-china-paris-agreement-14030340 |access-date=29 January 2021 |agency=CNA |publisher=Reuters/dv |date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203113347/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-climate-change-biden-emissions-china-paris-agreement-14030340 |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|2021 Leaders' Climate Summit}}

On April 22–23, 2021, Biden hosted a virtual climate summit with 40 world leaders. The gathering had been organized by the administration.

At the summit, Biden announced a new target for the U.S., as it had no Nationally Determined Contribution due to its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017. The new target aimed to reduce GHG emissions by 50%–52% by 2030 relative to the level of 2005, which was the amount specified by experts to adequately limit temperature rise.{{cite web |last1=Chemnick |first1=Jean |title=Earth Day Summit Will Mark U.S. Return to Global Climate Talks |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-day-summit-will-mark-u-s-return-to-global-climate-talks/ |website=Scientific American |publisher=E&E News}} The new target was described as a considerable step forward in the fight against climate change—though still not enough to limit global temperature rise to under the 1.5 °C target. Overall, the commitments made at the summit reduced the gap between the government's current pledges and the 1.5 °C target by 12% to 14%. Upon the new pledge's accomplishment, global emissions by 2030 would fall by 2.6% to 3.7% Gt{{CO2}}e more than they would have with the pledges before the summit.{{cite web |title=New momentum reduces emissions gap, but huge gap remains - analysis |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/press/new-momentum-reduces-emissions-gap-but-huge-gap-remains-analysis/ |website=Carbon Action Tracker |access-date=27 April 2021}}

At the beginning of May 2021, Climate Action Tracker released a more detailed report about the significance of the summit. According to the report, the summit, together with other pledges made from September 2020, would reduce the expected rise in temperature by 2100 by 0.2 °C. If all pledges were fulfilled, they predicted that temperatures would rise by 2.4 °C rather than the 2.9 °C increase that would arise from status quo operations. In the most optimistic scenario, if the countries also fulfilled the pledges that are not part of the Paris Agreement, temperatures would rise by 2.0 °C.{{cite web |title=Global Update: Climate Summit Momentum |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/global-update-climate-summit-momentum/ |website=Carbon Action Tracker |access-date=4 May 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Harrabin |first1=Roger |title=Climate change: Promises will mean rise of 2.4C - study |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56984691 |access-date=4 May 2021 |agency=BBC |date=4 May 2021}}

Biden's administration also launched a number of coalitions and initiatives aimed at stopping climate change and helping to reduce its impacts. These included a Global Climate Ambition Initiative for helping low-income countries to achieve emissions targets, as well as a "Net-Zero Producers Forum, with Canada, Norway, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, together representing 40% of global oil and gas production"{{cite web |title=Leaders Summit Showcases Clean Energy Commitments to Tackle Global Climate Crisis |url=https://sdg.iisd.org/news/leaders-summit-showcases-clean-energy-commitments-to-tackle-global-climate-crisis/ |website=SDG KNOWLEDGE HUB |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable development |access-date=2 May 2021}}

{{Main|2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference}}

File:John Kerry joins Joe Biden at the First Movers Coalition of COP26.jpg

In November 2021, world leaders met at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to negotiate goals to reduce global warming. While there was some progress attained, it has since been believed that the agreements reached were not sufficient to avoid the worst damage.{{cite web |last1=Sommer |first1=Lauren |title=Here's what world leaders agreed to — and what they didn't — at the U.N. climate summit |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/13/1055542738/cop26-climate-summit-final-decision |website=NPR |date=November 13, 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2021}}

Developing countries, which were already facing hardships due to intense droughts and flooding, asked that developed countries, largely responsible for global warming, establish a fund to help them cope. Some nations, including the U.S., refused.

One of the successes of the conference was the U.S. and China agreement on fighting climate change together. The framework includes commitments to:

• Working for achieving halt in temperature rise on 2 and preferably 1.5 °C, global Carbon neutrality
• Establishing environmental standards and policies needed for the transition to clean economy
• Moving toward Circular economy
• Control and reduce Methane emissions; China would specifically adopt a national methane reduction plan as the U.S. has already done, and in the first half of 2022, both countries would convene a meeting to accelerate the process
• Increase Energy efficiency and usage of Renewable energy; the U.S. specifically vowed to make its electricity sector carbon pollution-free by 2035
• Working to stop globally the use of unabated thermal coal power generation; China would lower the use of coal as much as possible during its 15th five-year plan
• Working to stop illegal deforestation by stopping illegal imports
• Giving financial and capacity building help to other countries
• Submitting new NDC to the year 2035 by 2025
• Create a special body, the "Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s," that would coordinate the implementation of such an agreement{{cite web |title=U.S.-China Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s |url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-china-joint-glasgow-declaration-on-enhancing-climate-action-in-the-2020s/ |website=U.S. Department of State |publisher=the United States Government |access-date=19 November 2021}}

At the conference, 40 countries, including the U.S. and five institutions, promised to stop financing carbon-intensive projects abroad by the end of 2022.{{cite news |last1=Volcovici |first1=Valerie |title=Biden orders U.S. to stop financing new carbon-intense projects abroad |url=https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/12/11/usa-coal-overseas |access-date=12 December 2021 |agency=Euronews.next |date=11 December 2021}}

At the conference, the U.S. and United Arab Emirates launched an initiative called the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate). Later, in February 2022, the US gave $1 billion directed toward cutting greenhouse gases, specifically looking to cut from the agricultural sector. The initiative additionally needed another $8 billion for implementation.{{cite news |last1=Barrington |first1=Lisa |title=EXCLUSIVE U.S.-UAE push for another $4 billion in farming climate change investment |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/exclusive-us-uae-push-another-4bln-farming-climate-change-investment-2022-02-20/ |access-date=21 February 2022 |work=Reuters |date=20 February 2022}}

The Biden administration ended the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) established under Obama.{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Joanna I. |title=Cooperating for the Climate: Learning from International Partnerships in China's Clean Energy Sector |date=2023 |publisher=The MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-54482-5 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}{{Rp|page=98}} CERC had been the most ambitious clean energy cooperation platform between the two countries{{Rp|page=117}} and one of the few cooperation mechanisms that survived the Trump administration.{{Rp|page=98}}

In July 2023, the International Organization of Securities Commissions—of which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission have been board members and whose members agencies regulate more than 95 percent of worldwide market capitalization—endorsed the climate reporting standards created by the International Sustainability Standards Board (including for Scope 3 reporting).{{cite news|last=Toplensky|first=Rochelle|date=July 25, 2023|title=Stock Exchange Regulators Back Global Climate-Reporting Rules|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=News Corp|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/stock-exchange-regulators-back-global-climate-reporting-rules-35ce71b9|access-date=July 26, 2023}}

Environmental organizations and scientists responded positively to the Biden administration's actions on climate change on the first day of his presidency. The decisions taken one week later were similarly welcomed by environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sunrise Movement and partially by the Indigenous Environmental Network. However, the Western Energy Alliance filed a lawsuit against the decision to stop giving new permits for oil and gas drilling in federal lands and waters, whilst the Indigenous Environmental Network stated that the decision did not go far enough. There was also concern that the ban on new oil and gas drilling on public lands would not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as less than half of the existing permits were in use at the time.

Some criticized Biden's environmental policies on the premise that they would eliminate jobs—a popular Republican argument against Biden in the 2020 election.{{Cite web|last=Rosenbaum|first=Eric|date=2021-01-31|title=Biden's climate change plan and the battle for America's most threatened workers|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/31/bidens-climate-change-plan-and-americas-most-threatened-workers.html|access-date=2021-08-04|website=CNBC|language=en}} Biden countered by stating that his policies would actually create jobs in the transition to a green economy. There was also the argument that climate change, if not acted upon, would cause the loss of many more jobs than any climate action on the part of the Biden administration would.{{cite news |last1=Krattenmaker |first1=Tom |title=Climate chaos is the real job killer. Biden's clean energy plan will boost the economy. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/02/16/climate-change-clean-energy-jobs-economic-stability-column/4451356001/ |access-date=18 February 2021 |agency=USA today |date=16 February 2021}} According to Energy Innovation, a program aimed at reaching zero emissions by 2050 could save the U.S. $3.5 trillion if it started implementation immediately, compared to a scenario in which it will begin to be implemented in 2030.{{cite news |title=Immediate Climate Action Can Save U.S. $3.5 Trillion Over Time |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-action-save-money-2650291088.html |access-date=18 February 2021 |agency=Ecowatch |publisher=Climate Nexus |date=4 February 2021}}

The Biden administration's environmental policy was characterized as a return to the Obama administration's climate change policy of reducing carbon emissions with the goal of conserving the environment for future generations. However, according to a letter sent to the administration by a group of young climate activists, returning to the policy of Obama and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 would not be enough to stabilize the climate.{{cite news|last1=Germanos|first1=Andrea|date=21 January 2021|title=Youth Climate Leaders Say Global Future Depends on Biden Being Bold|agency=Ecowatch|url=https://www.ecowatch.com/youth-climate-activists-biden-2650054864.html|access-date=27 January 2021}} Others also criticized Biden's environmental policies for being too conservative, believing that they weren't going far enough in comparison to policies put in place by politicians like the Green Party's Howie Hawkins, who had created the original version of the Green New Deal, or Biden's primary rival Bernie Sanders.{{cite news |last1=Moritz-Rabson |first1=Daniel |title=Joe Biden Has Second-Worst Policy on Climate Change Among Democratic Contenders: Greenpeace Evaluation |url=https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-second-worst-climate-change-greenpeace-1439346 |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=30 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Rall |first1=Ted |title=The Green Alternative to Red and Blue |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-green-alternative-to-red-and-blue-11604342918 |access-date=4 March 2021 |date=26 October 2020}}

The attorneys general of 21 Republican-led states sued Biden for canceling the permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline.{{cite news |last1=Lederman |first1=Josh |title=21 Republican-led states sue Biden over Keystone XL rejection |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/21-republican-led-states-sue-biden-over-keystone-xl-rejection-n1261356 |access-date=9 August 2021 |agency=NBC |date=18 March 2021}} Additionally, the attorneys general of 14 Republican-led states sued him for the moratorium on new oil and gas leases on public lands and waters.{{cite news |last1=Newburger |first1=Emma |title=14 GOP state attorneys general sue Biden administration over oil and gas leasing moratorium |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/24/14-states-sue-biden-administration-over-oil-and-gas-leasing-moratorium.html |access-date=9 August 2021 |agency=CNBC |date=24 March 2021}} Many of those states suffer from severe, climate change-induced heat waves{{cite news |last1=Rosane |first1=Olivia |title=17 States Under Heat Alerts as Fifth Summer Heat Wave in the U.S. Begins |url=https://www.ecowatch.com/us-heat-waves-summer-2654010477.html |access-date=9 August 2021 |agency=Ecowatch |date=27 July 2021}} and drought; farmers have been among the most affected.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Zachary B. |title=The American West is drying out. Things will get ugly |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/19/politics/what-matters-climate-change-western-drought/index.html |access-date=16 July 2021 |agency=CNN |date=20 June 2021}}

In February 2022, around 100 religious leaders called Biden and Congress to pass Build Back Better on behalf of the climate; those included Christians, Jews, and others. Around 80% of Catholic women were members in the organizations that signed the letter; one of them mentioned that the bill established a spending of $555 billion through several years, while the Senate approved spending of $770 billion in one year for military tasks.{{cite news |last1=Roewe |first1=Brian |title=As Build Back Better stalls, faith leaders call Biden, Senate to 'moment for courage' on climate |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/build-back-better-stalls-faith-leaders-call-biden-senate-moment-courage-climate |access-date=28 February 2022 |agency=National Catholic Reporter |date=17 February 2022}}

In 2024, several environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, Sunrise Movement, and Earthjustice, issued a memorandum stating that Biden did more for the environment than any other president in history; they presented a list of 322 actions made by the administration to achieve the goal.{{cite web |title=ANALYSIS: JOE BIDEN HAS TAKEN MORE THAN 300 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS |url=https://climatepower.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Analysis_-Number-of-Climate-Actions.pdf |access-date=19 May 2024}}

Some critics defined Biden climate policy as socialistic.{{cite web |title=Waste Watch: Biden’s Socialist Wish List |url=https://oversight.house.gov/blog/waste-watch-bidens-socialist-wish-list/ |website=Committee on Oversight and Government Reform |access-date=12 March 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Collinson |first1=Stephen |title=The momentum behind Biden’s climate ambitions |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/22/world/meanwhile-in-america-december-22-intl/index.html |access-date=12 March 2025 |agency=CNN |date=22 December 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Folley |first1=Aris |last2=Jagoda |first2=Naomi |last3=Lillis |first3=Mike |title=Five takeaways: House passes Biden’s sweeping benefits bill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/582418-five-takeaways-house-passes-bidens-sweeping-benefits-bill/ |access-date=12 March 2025 |agency=The Hill |date=20 November 2021}}

• Executive Order 13990 (signed 20 January 2021): "Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis"
• Executive Order 14007 (signed 27 January 2021): "Executive Order on Establishing President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology"{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2021-09-13 |title=Executive Order on Amending Executive Order 14007 |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/09/13/executive-order-on-amending-executive-order-14007/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
• Executive Order 14008 (signed 27 January 2021): "Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad"{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2021-01-27 |title=Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
• Executive Order 14013 (signed 4 February 2021): "Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration"{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2021-02-05 |title=Executive Order on Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/04/executive-order-on-rebuilding-and-enhancing-programs-to-resettle-refugees-and-planning-for-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-migration/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
• Executive Order 14057 (signed 8 December 2021): "Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability"{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2021-12-08 |title=Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/12/08/executive-order-on-catalyzing-clean-energy-industries-and-jobs-through-federal-sustainability/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
• Executive Order 14096 (signed 21 April 2023): "Executive Order on Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All"{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2023-04-21 |title=Executive Order on Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
• "Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking" (signed 27 January 2021){{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2021-01-27 |title=Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}

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