President Biden And Vice President Harris’ Inauguration Restores Climate Leadership, Paves Way For Millions of Clean Energy Jobs

Washington, D.C. – Today, Climate Power Executive Director Lori Lodes released a statement on how the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris marks the restoration of American leadership committed to addressing the climate crisis and creating good-paying union clean energy jobs:

“As President Biden took the oath of office today, he laid out a bold vision for climate action – showing once again he recognizes the seriousness of this moment and the opportunity for him to be the climate president our country needs,” Climate Power Executive Director Lori Lodes. “Biden’s commitment to building back better by powering an equitable and just economic recovery with clean energy will create a stronger, safer, and more secure future for all. This is our climate moment. I have no doubt that President Biden and his pro-climate action Cabinet are ready for everything this moment demands. ”

Throughout his campaign and the presidential transition, Biden put clean energy jobs and climate change front-and-center. Through a series of high-profile appointments of climate champion Cabinet officials, he has also signaled that an all-of-government approach is needed to take bold action on climate change, advance environmental justice, and build back better with millions of good-paying, union clean energy jobs.

In his inaugural address Biden spoke of a climate in crisis and the responsibility for his administration to act: “We face an attack on our democracy and on truth. A raging virus. Growing inequity. The sting of systemic racism. A climate in crisis. America’s role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways, but the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we’ve had. Now we’re going to be tested. Are we going to step up, all of us? It’s time for boldness, for there’s so much to do.”

As part of his commitment to reverse the damage former President Donald Trump inflicted on our climate, Biden has stated that he’ll use his first hours as president to restore American climate leadership by rejoining the Paris climate accord. During his first few weeks in office Biden is also expected to sign additional executive orders on the climate crisis, reverse disastrous Trump administration rules that promote the agendas of corporate polluters and limit economic growth, and roll out a stimulus package as part of his Build Back Better plan that will help tackle climate change and create jobs through investments in clean energy infrastructure.