The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 7 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on April 2, 2021.
Lia Fiffles ’24
Staff Writer
We are at a point in time where nations have taken steps to combat the global issue of climate change, and the United States has not had any linear progression. As differing administrations have come in and out of office, various decisions and policies have been established in regard to climate change and the fight against it. As of now, the Biden administration is working to implement a plan to effectively combat this global issue, and it is clear that they are taking a different direction when compared to the Trump administration.
The Biden administration has announced a plan for fighting global warming that deals with many different aspects and called upon his administration to make it a prioritized issue. Immediately since taking office, Biden has worked to reverse the damage that was done by Trump reversing the 84 environmental rules that were put in place; the most well-known being the removal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. Significant investments will go toward constructing a more present-day infrastructure to provide Americans with a larger sense of trust and safety in the face of natural disasters. This aspect also works to provide more jobs, because it is a growing concern for some when it comes to certain decisions that deal with climate change. Another aspect of the plan deals with the growing emissions and the pollution that is brought into the air because of it. Biden’s plan is working to cut greenhouse gas emissions down to zero by no later than 2035 and in addition, will work to establish improved fuel standards, which will contribute to the restriction of these emissions. The plan will also work to invest in creating more regulated and pure energy; how we power our economy will go through a transition in response to this global issue.
A major aspect of this fight against climate change will be encouraging the populace to cooperate with these changes. For some, climate change can be seen as a more theoretical idea than others because not everyone is experiencing these natural disasters firsthand. The cooperation of the public will be necessary in the long run, as the damage already done gets closer to being irreversible. As the government works to change how our economy runs, the American public will have to adjust to these changes to allow long-term results to take place.
As President Biden and his administration work toward combating climate change with the current plan, it is important that they take note of those who are opposing these changes because of the change in lifestyle that is needed. We must educate those who are not aware of the severe impact climate change has and will continue to have on this planet. In addition, while it is important that the American government is working toward bettering its own country in terms of climate change, establishing an understanding with other nations in regard to this issue is vital, because at the end of the day climate change affects everyone.
