Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumGood Starting Point For Biden Administration: Restoring Utah National Monuments, Creating More
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Upon taking office, the Trump administration prioritized undoing President Barack Obamas legacy, everything from monument designations to a slew of climate policies aimed at reining in greenhouse gas emissions. The pro-industry, anti-conservation crusade came amid dual climate and extinction crises, as experts around the globe stressed the importance of preserving still-intact ecosystems that sequester carbon and provide refuge for imperiled species.
Former Vice President Biden, who clinched the 2020 presidential victory on Saturday, has signaled that he plans to swing back with a frenzy of early executive actions. While rejoining the Paris climate accord and repealing Trumps travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority nations are expected to be Day 1 priorities, rolling back Trumps monument rollbacks likely wont be too far behind.
The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, made up of the five Native American tribes that petitioned the Obama administration to grant Bears Ears monument status, has already had intermediary discussions with Bidens team, according to Keala Carter, the coalitions public lands specialist. All indications seem to point to that we should have great faith in the Biden administration to uphold and build on what the Obama administration did, she told HuffPost by phone. Its evident that Bears Ears in particular really hits at the intersection or some sort of crossroads of racial justice, public lands and planning for a changing climate ― I get the sense that its going to be really relevant to the sort of change the Biden administration wants to pursue.
How quickly the Biden administration might move to restore Bears Ears remains to be seen. More important than speed, Carter said, is a desire among area tribes to see it done in a way that is lasting and legally defensible. One of the things in particular we are anticipating is that Bidens team is going to understand the nuance and be able to think through solutions that might not be as vulnerable, she said.
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https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-national-monuments_n_5fa9808cc5b66009569d241f?guccounter=2&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHljbGltYXRlLm9yZy8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEocjaSZyAIJDnJpN2az2pFfQJZmbjh_IGxxyF9TApqVA6DdV0BcE5istwPJvrl2jXf2rl9wEXp7QX2m2zvcrYXC-Kt0tqkoGavKHLHJD7QbfbNHoDbFH8DgJ6CZMeyavXvhl6FFmRfzFXoyIGxRWU3l61dcwbpuWBVz4yPjbcZN