Today President Biden announced plans to re-enter the United States into the Paris Agreement via executive order. SEIA backed the agreement when it was signed in 2016 and continues to support this agreement and other global efforts to combat climate change.
According to Reuters, Biden will also sign an order to review all of former President Trump’s actions that weakened climate change protections.
Following is a statement from Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of SEIA on these actions:
“This is an exciting day for the United States, and we welcome and congratulate President Biden and Vice President Harris. Today is also marked with feelings of resolve and a sense of gravity for the work ahead. The climate crisis is a threat to everyone on this planet, and the solar industry stands ready to help America meet its commitments in the Paris Agreement.
“Many state and local governments, corporate leaders, and the American people broadly are committed to deploying more solar to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are looking forward to working with these leaders and the Biden administration to meet this moment and reclaim America’s standing as a global leader in the fight against climate change.
“As our economy recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, we have an opportunity to activate a broad coalition and tackle issues such as climate change, racial justice and economic recovery for all Americans. With the right policies and bold actions from the president, the solar industry can help address these challenges, generate billions of dollars in economic activity and put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work.”
Gregory Wetstone, president and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), issued the following statement on Biden re-joining the agreement.
“We commend President Biden’s commitment to move America beyond climate denial on his very first day in office, starting with rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and initiating a wholesale review of the Trump Administration’s climate and clean energy rollbacks — including the Department of Labor’s misguided anti-ESG investing rule. The nation’s renewable sector looks forward to working with the new administration to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy and return the United States to a position of global leadership in the fight against climate change. Working together, we can deliver the clean energy future that Americans want and scientists say we need.”
Lynn Jurich, co-founder and CEO of Sunrun, issued the following statement about the commitment:
“I am excited to see swift actions from the Biden Administration to combat our climate crisis. People around the world will benefit from President Biden’s bold climate agenda. We have the technology, today, to fight climate change and put people back to work. I urge the Biden Administration to pursue an aggressive electrification agenda and help more people gain access to rooftop solar and batteries.”
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