President Biden to Take Action for Wildlife on Day One

On his first day in the White House, President Joe Biden plans to sign 15 executive orders today covering the pandemic, economic relief, immigration, climate change and racial equity. Some of the actions will reverse harmful environmental decisions made by the Trump administration.  

Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement

As a top priority for the administration, Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris climate accord, part of his commitment to getting the U.S. — the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases — on a path to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“We applaud President Biden for putting our nation back on the path of progress towards combatting climate change – one of the greatest threats we face to special places, imperiled species and people,” said Jamie Rappaport Clark, Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. “We are encouraged by Biden’s commitment to reenter the U.S. into the Paris Agreement, to limit warming and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Addressing climate change and tackling the escalating biodiversity loss will not be easy, but our future depends on the actions we take today.”

As part of his commitment to confront these challenges, Biden has also vowed to support federal scientists beleaguered by years of climate denial and sidelined science.

Halting Arctic Refuge Oil and Gas Leases

President Biden has announced that he will put a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a crown jewel home to imperiled polar bears and thousands of migratory birds. The announcement comes a day after the Trump administration finalized oil and gas leases for this iconic wildlife refuge.

“This moratorium is urgently needed given the profound impact drilling in one of the nation’s most fragile wildlife refuges would have on sensitive wildlife, Indigenous ways of life and worsening climate change,” said Clark.

Biden has already signaled a clear departure from the Trump administration’s Energy Dominance campaign. With the first leases completed and destructive seismic set to begin shortly, this action has come just in time.  

“We are grateful to President Biden for today’s action and look forward to working with his administration and Congress to permanently end the threat of drilling in the refuge,” said Clark.

Stopping the Keystone XL Pipeline

Another immediate action expected by Biden is to revoke permits for the Keystone XL pipeline, a controversial cross-border project that cuts through national wildlife monuments and tribal lands. This is the start of broader efforts to reverse harmful policies, address the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.

“It’s time for us to move away from fossil fuels and lead the way toward clean energy solutions,” said Clark.

Stopping Border Wall Construction 

Biden is also expected to end President Trump’s national emergency declaration to divert money to build the border wall. Construction is expected to stop temporarily while the new administration determines next steps. 

“The reckless effort to build a border wall has already divided families and communities along the border and jeopardized wildlife, habitat and years of conservation progress and collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico,” said Clark. “We applaud efforts to halt construction and any further disastrous outcomes for wildlife.”

Undoing the Damage

Biden has also announced that he will promptly direct agencies to review a long list of Trump administration regulatory actions that damage wildlife and their habitats. This includes actions related to the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and more. Biden will also request that his administration review the rules and boundaries set for national monuments such as Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in New England.

President Biden and Vice President Harris will assume office as the nation faces a surging climate crisis and an unprecedented and accelerating biodiversity crisis. And for the first time, we will have a president who has elevated climate change to center stage.

“It is with great hope and optimism that we embrace this new dawn for the restoration of our nation’s conservation legacy,” said Clark.