Biden says he has ‘practically’ declared a climate emergency

President Biden in a new interview says he has “in practice” declared a national climate emergency, though he has not actually announced such a declaration.

A national emergency declaration on climate change is a specific tool the president has at his disposal that would unlock other powers related to climate change. 

Experts told The Hill last year that these powers could range from using the Defense Production Act to provide loans to bolster climate-friendly energy sources and to prevent oil exports.

Asked by The Weather Channel in an interview that aired Wednesday about whether he was prepared to declare a national climate emergency, Biden responded that he had “already done that.”

“We’ve conserved more land. We’ve … rejoined the Paris Climate Accord,” he said, also appearing to allude to legislative accomplishments.

Pressed on whether he had declared it, Biden responded “in practice” and “practically speaking.”

The White House has not actually announced any such declaration. Biden appeared poised to do so last year when it appeared that talks over his climate, tax and health care bill had stalled.

Many climate activists have called for the climate emergency declaration, both in recognition of the seriousness of the problem and so more tools could be used to combat it. 

Proponents of such a policy renewed their calls on the president to declare such an emergency in the wake of his comments. 

“Biden has, in fact, failed to declare a climate emergency under the National Emergencies Act, failed to harness his executive powers, and failed to take lifesaving action to end fossil fuels,” said Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, in a written statement. 

“Practically speaking, Biden has devastated communities and wildlife by backing disastrous carbon bombs from Alaska to Appalachia. But the president can still become the leader we need by declaring a climate emergency for real,”  Siegel added.

Meanwhile, the progressive Sunrise Movement tweeted “Hmmm… so just… do it?” in response to the president’s remark.

A White House spokesperson touted Biden’s climate accomplishments in a follow-up statement to The Hill. 

“The President was crystal clear: he has treated climate change as an emergency – the existential threat of our time – since day one. That’s why he signed into law the most ambitious climate bill in history, conserved more land than any President in generations, rejoined the Paris Agreement, attracted $240 billion in private sector investment in clean energy, and used his emergency authorities to invoke the Defense Production Act to supercharge domestic clean energy manufacturing,” the spokesperson said.

 “Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are actively trying to repeal his historic bill and unwind regulations that reduce emissions and curb pollution – which would exacerbate the climate crisis and threaten the health and wellbeing of every American,” the spokesperson added. 

This story was updated at 12:51 p.m.