Here’s how Biden’s racing to Trump-proof his climate legacy

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: In response to Donald Trump’s victory, the Biden administration is racing to finalize key climate and environmental policies before Inauguration Day
• Agencies like the EPA are expediting new rules on Arctic drilling restrictions, sage grouse habitat protections, and limitations on liquefied natural gas exports to make it harder for the next administration to reverse them

🔭 The context: Trump has pledged to reverse much of Biden’s climate agenda, including opening the Arctic Refuge to drilling and removing restrictions on fossil fuel projects
• This urgency echoes the 2017 transition when Trump quickly dismantled several Obama-era climate policies, underscoring the transient nature of environmental protections under shifting administrations

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Biden's policies target significant emission sources and aim to protect vulnerable ecosystems, but these achievements risk reversal
• Fast-tracking these policies could help preserve emissions reductions and biodiversity protections, even if they face rollback attempts in a Trump administration

⏭️ What's next: The administration plans to finalize additional regulations in the coming weeks, including stricter rules on toxic chemicals and support for California’s gas car phase-out by 2035
• The goal is to build a durable climate legacy, though these policies could face legal and legislative challenges

💬 One quote: EPA Administrator Michael Regan encouraged staff to “run through the tape” and complete critical work before Trump’s inauguration, expressing confidence in their lasting impact

📈 One stat: New sage grouse protections cover nearly 65 million acres across 10 Western states, limiting activities like drilling and mining

Click for more news covering the latest on public governance