Where are Biden's new climate goals?

Your guide to the political forces shaping the energy transformation

Dec 17, 2024 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington on Nov. 25. | Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images Pressure is mounting on President Joe Biden to fulfill his pledge to release new climate targets before he vacates office — but time is running out. President-elect Donald Trump is sure to disregard plans for deeper cuts to U.S. climate pollution, writes Sara Schonhardt. But missing the Paris Agreement’s February deadline to submit new 2035 climate targets could still be detrimental to international goals, advocates say. Submitting the 10-year blueprint to the United Nations could make it easier for the next president to revive in four years when Trump is out. Plus, the so-called nationally determined contribution (NDC) would set the bar of what’s possible for the world’s largest economy, encouraging other nations to pursue strong targets. “It would send an unfortunate signal internationally if the Biden administration doesn’t submit its target,” said David Waskow with the World Resources Institute. The White House said last month that it intends to submit a new goal, but has so far missed a number of opportunities to do so. The announcement didn’t happen at COP29, the global climate conference last month, or at a recent meeting of the Group of 20 major economies. Environmental groups pushed Biden to announce the new target last week, the ninth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, with no success. Jean Su, with the Center for Biological Diversity, said she thinks the delay is due to the White House’s effort to get it right. “Even if it comes on Jan. 18, fine, just get it out there,” she told Sara. In the country’s 2021 NDC, Biden set a goal to reduce U.S. climate pollution by 50-52 percent compared with 2005 levels by 2030. Though the administration followed that up with unprecedented clean energy funding and a historic climate law, the country is still falling short. A July analysis by the Rhodium Group found that the nation is on track to cut its climate pollution by 32-43 percent by decade’s end. Achieving those targets becomes even harder if Trump delivers on his pledge to maximize fossil fuel production and dismantle Democrats’ 2022 climate law. Still, a new policy brief by the Center for Global Sustainability found that corporations, states and localities could “counteract” rollbacks of federal regulations and funding. The U.S. could still cut emissions by 54-62 percent with strong climate action at the state and local level, according to the brief.   It's Tuesday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net. Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Alex Guillén sits down with Chris Frey, who led the Environmental Protection Agency's research office under Biden for three years, to discuss how a second Trump administration could impact federal science policy.   Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today.     Natural gas exports A ship readies exports of liquefied natural gas via Corpus Christi, Texas. | Business Wire Biden releases long-awaited natural gas study The Energy Department has released the assessment at the heart of its contentious pause on liquefied natural gas export approvals, finding that "unfettered" shipments of the fuel would make domestic prices rise, write Brian Dabbs and Carlos Anchondo. “A business-as-usual approach is neither sustainable nor advisable,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said during a call with reporters. Power Centers Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other House leaders during a press conference Tuesday. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Funding bill: What's in, what's out House Republican leadership has outlined details of the stopgap funding bill that Congress will vote on later this week, including billions of dollars in economic aid for farmers, a measure to boost biofuels sales and a massive disaster aid supplemental, writes Andres Picon. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the funding extension will include roughly $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers who have suffered from high costs, falling incomes and natural disasters. SCOTUS could target landmark climate case The Supreme Court may walk back an often-cited 2017 decision from a lower bench that directed federal agencies to take a broader look at the climate effects of energy projects, writes Niina H. Farah. During arguments for a related case last week, the justices displayed a wide range of opinions about how broad a scope should be considered. That makes it unclear how the court might rule, said Jennifer Danis with New York University’s Institute for Policy Integrity. Central European energy firms want Russian gas Top Central European energy firms are pushing European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen to extend a transit deal carrying Russian gas across Ukraine, marking the region's latest effort to shore up supplies from Moscow, writes Victor Jack. In a letter, gas supply firms, network operators and industrial consumers from Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Italy said the end of the deal could “complicate the supply of gas” and “result in higher gas prices for European consumers.” In Other News A year in climate negotiations: 2024 wins, losses and what lies ahead. Winter sports: Climate change is stealing weeks of winter, unnerving ski area owners.   Write your own chapter in the new Washington. From the Lame Duck Congress Series to New Administration insights, POLITICO Pro delivers intelligence across 22+ policy areas to help you anticipate and navigate change. Discover how a Pro subscription empowers you. Learn more today.     Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. A United Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway at Denver International Airport. | David Zalubowski/AP A new partnership between NOAA and United Airlines will soon help federal scientists keep better tabs on domestic greenhouse gas emissions. The Biden administration gave yet another last-minute jolt to the electric vehicle supply chain, issuing a conditional loan of almost $755 million to build a Tennessee battery materials factory. California regulators are dialing back enforcement of a law that requires large companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions — undercutting the state's image as a climate leader. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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