Climate change can be effectively managed through collective action. It can happen, and it would make for an amazing story to tell future generations. Realistically the world cannot thrive if everyone stops using fossil fuels tonight at midnight. However, a gradual reduction over the next several decades is more than just a possibility – it’s very likely to occur. Open-minded honest conversations are needed, however. At the recent 2022 Conference of the Parties (COP27) President Biden said, “Thanks to the actions we’ve taken, I can stand here as President of the United States of America and say with confidence, the United States of America will meet our emissions targets by 2030”. This statement provided encouragement because of our nation’s earlier promise to cut emissions by 50% [of 2005 levels] by the year 2030. Currently the U.S. is the world’s second leading carbon polluter, trailing China by a significant margin. Despite China and Russia increasing their carbon emissions in 2022, President Biden and climate envoy John Kerry drew the ire of environmental activists and world leaders.
Perhaps environmental activists and world leaders are frustrated with Mr. Biden over issues besides reluctance to compensate countries who have contributed less toward global warming. While the President campaigned on climate change in 2020, some recent decisions spoke volumes about the persistent U.S. fossil fuel addiction.
1. Hiroko Tabuchi’s New York Times article on June 24, 2021 reported that the Biden administration filed paperwork to block the indigenous peoples’ challenges to the 340-mile pipeline replacement that would run through Minnesota’s watersheds and treaty-protected tribal lands. The administration declined to withdraw the federal permits for the pipeline construction as it did successfully with the Keystone XL pipeline. Tabuchi writes, “The pipeline would also carry a particularly dirty form of oil that, when burned, would put nearly 200 million tons of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere annually during the pipeline’s lifetime, according to the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement.” This new pipeline, known as Line 3, was quickly completed and became operational in October 2021.
2. Steven Mufson’s Washington Post article on September 14, 2022 reported that the Biden administration reinstated $190 million worth of drilling leases (307 total oil and gas leases) in the Gulf of Mexico. This was an arrangement made in order to secure Senator Manchin’s vote for the Inflation Reduction Act.
3. On November 18, 2022 the Biden administration stated that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman holds immunity over his alleged role in the infamous 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. While President Biden likely believes (along with most of the world) that bin Salman is responsible for ordering the killing, he is more motivated to lower oil prices, which in turn would secure election votes in 2024.
4. Dylan Baddour’s Texas Tribune article on November 23, 2022 reported that the Biden administration quietly made a move to add 2 million barrels per day to the U.S. oil export capacity. Baddour writes, “The offshore oil export terminal, the first to be approved of four proposed along Texas’ Gulf Coast, will enable continued growth in U.S. shale oil production and in global consumption, dealing a substantial setback to the White House’s goals for drastic cuts in carbon emissions by year 2030”. COP27 had just ended.
These behaviors illuminate our nation’s over-reliance on fossil fuels and inability to empathize with other nations suffering as a result of our fossil fuel addiction. In a time of climate urgency, I agree with the activists who raise the expectations for world leaders. As a whole, we can do better than one step forward, one step back. We must consider all God’s people living in countries who have not contributed heavily to global warming but will suffer first and foremost. We must acknowledge the forced climate migration that could occur if island nations are submerged in water while severe droughts threaten Africa and the Middle East. Environmental justice requires that the undeserving are not forced to bear an unfair portion of the burden even as we all begin this difficult gradual transition to renewable energies. As a Creation Justice Church, we at Hope UCC can start by having more conversations about these difficult topics and getting involved with local and global organizations who are actively combating climate change. We can do this.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/politics/saudi-crown-prince-immunity-state-department-jamal-khashoggi
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