On Friday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at prioritizing “environmental justice” across federal agencies while also forcing agencies to be subjected to an environmental “scorecard.” The order establishes a White House Office of Environmental Justice, headed by a Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer who will oversee “environmental justice” goals throughout the government.
According to the order, the government will focus on ensuring that lower-income people and minorities are not subjected to “disproportionate environmental harms,” especially those stemming from “a legacy of racial discrimination, including redlining.” Agencies will also be required to notify nearby communities in the event of a release of toxic substances from a federal facility and address gaps in science, data, and research related to “environmental justice.”
The White House also announced a new environmental justice scorecard that will assess federal agencies’ records on environmental justice. The administration has launched new programs covered by “Justice40,” which says 40 percent of all resources of certain federal investments must flow to “disadvantaged communities.”
The Biden regime has made climate justice one of its top priorities, and the executive order aims to contrast its environmental priorities with those of the GOP, who they paint as being in the pocket of Big Oil. The House GOP is now pushing to have its sprawling energy package, HR 1, included in their package to raise the debt ceiling.
HR 1 aims to boost energy production domestically by cutting regulations on oil, gas, and mineral mining needed for green energy. Friday’s order comes after Thursday, when President Biden pledged $1 billion to help other nations around the world fight climate change, and another $500 million to help curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
“The United States is taking bold action to put our energy sector on a path toward net-zero emissions by no later than 2050,” President Biden said.
While some have praised the order, others have criticized it for focusing too much on environmental justice and not enough on economic growth. The order could also result in increased costs for businesses that will have to comply with new regulations and standards.
Overall, the executive order is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to combat climate change and promote environmental justice, and it remains to be seen how successful it will be in achieving those goals.
