Background
On January 27, President Biden issued Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. Section 102(e) of the order states that the White House will immediately begin the process of developing its nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, with a goal to announce the revised NDC prior to Leaders’ Climate Summit that will be convened by President Biden on April 22, 2021.
The Chamber applauded the President’s decision to return to the Paris Agreement and stated its desire to engage with the Biden Administration as it develops a revised NDC. We have developed principles and priorities for engagement on development of the NDC, as well as broader planning for the lead-up to the UN Conference of the Parties meeting (COP 26) in Glasgow in November 2021. The priority areas identified below are a first step in this effort.
Summary
As the Chamber’s Approach to Climate Change states, inaction on climate is not an option. The U.S. has led the world in greenhouse gas emissions reductions, but more must be done, and we welcome the Biden Administration’s efforts to restore international leadership on this critical issue.
We are calling for reducing emissions as low as we can as fast as we can, while ensuring that any national targets and timetables are realistic, achievable, appropriately account for U.S. economic interests and work to address impacts to trade-exposed, hard-to-adapt and energy intensive sectors. We are hopeful that targets are developed through a thoughtful and collaborative effort that identifies a clear path to achievement and garners the support of businesses, consumers, and other stakeholders necessary to ensure political durability.
