Biden signs executive actions to address 'climate crisis'
Biden has signed a series of actions on climate change, fulfilling campaign promises such as freezing new oil and gas leasing on federal land and kicking off his ambitious agenda to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- making tackling climate change a priority across the federal government.
In addition to Biden’s domestic policy priorities on climate, one executive order sets climate change as a key consideration for U.S. national security and foreign policy. It also sets up the U.S. to host an international climate summit on Earth Day on April 22.
The order directs the federal government to purchase electric, zero-emissions vehicles for its enormous fleet, double the country's offshore wind energy, establish a Civilian Climate Corps and sets the goal of conserving at least 30% of the country's lands and oceans. It also directs federal agencies to address the health, environmental and climate impacts on disadvantaged communities and to direct 40% of relevant federal investment to those areas.
Biden has tasked former Secretary of State John Kerry, in his position as special presidential envoy for climate, with “enhanced climate ambition” to increase the U.S. commitment and push other countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions even further in the fight against climate change, another part of the order.
Wednesday's actions follow several climate-related executive orders Biden signed in his first few days in office, including rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate and revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
Biden’s aggressive actions come after former President Donald Trump rolled back much of his predecessor’s climate work, a point Biden acknowledged in his remarks.
-ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs and Sarah Kolinovsky