The national spotlight shone on Indiana as the state’s own Janet McCabe got the nod from President Joe Biden for the No. 2 role at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Her return to Washington — this time as deputy administrator — puts climate change at the forefront. A little more than four years ago, McCabe ended her service as assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. Since then, the most significant aspects of the Obama-era climate change regulations, namely the Clean Power Plan, have been unwound. Biden’s selection of McCabe signals a doubling down on regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
McCabe’s return to EPA is a significant indicator of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to re-align the United States’ climate change efforts with global trends, including the Paris Agreement. McCabe will be accompanied by a host of additional Biden-Harris appointees who have been tapped to address climate change, promote environmental justice and create clean-energy jobs. Among the long list of notable appointees is Gina McCarthy, who will serve as the White House national climate adviser. McCarthy was EPA’s chief administrator under Obama. She has since served as the president of the Natural Resources Defense Council and led numerous efforts promoting energy efficiency and protection of endangered species.
The Biden-Harris administration has set an ambitious environmental agenda and drafted a cadre of experienced regulators such as Michael Regan and Janet McCabe to lead the charge. This new agenda includes helping the United States achieve “net zero” emissions no later than 2050, which aligns with the European Union’s 2050 roadmap to implement the intent of the Paris Agreement. Domestic efforts to attain net zero emissions include EPA’s finalization of first standards regulating greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes, which would align the U.S. with international standards, including those set by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization. According to Regan, EPA will proceed with urgency to implement these goals.
Additional coverage from the National Wildlife Federation
