White House "April Climate Summit... Halt Oil and Gas Drilling"

by Jo Youjin

Published 28 Jan.2021 09:15(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The White House announced on the 27th (local time) that U.S. President Joe Biden will hold a climate summit in April to address climate change and issue an executive order to halt new oil and gas drilling on federal lands.

According to the White House website, John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and Gina McCarthy, the Climate Advisor, stated at a climate briefing held in the White House briefing room in Washington that President Biden plans to hold an international climate summit on April 22, Earth Day.

President Biden is expected to soon sign an executive order to hold the April climate summit and to stop new oil and gas drilling on federal lands.

The executive actions, including the executive order and presidential memorandum that President Biden will issue, will also include the creation of new climate-related positions and an interagency task force, measures to promote government procurement of clean energy, and plans to support communities most affected by industrial pollution.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki explained, "President Biden will announce executive actions to halt new oil and gas drilling on federally owned lands and offshore areas, reduce fossil fuel subsidies, and strengthen measures to protect low-income and minority communities from environmental pollution."

She also stated, "He plans to instruct the Department of the Interior to halt as many new federal oil and gas leases as possible and to review the climate impact of this program and its benefits to taxpayers."

Additionally, a goal to conserve 30% of federal lands and water resources by 2030 to protect wildlife will be presented.

The Biden administration has identified COVID-19, economic recession, climate change, and racial inequality as four major challenges and has declared an active response policy.