DC set for jam-packed Earth Day as Biden announces Paris emissions goal

Earth Day this year finds Washington jam-packed with environmental events as the White House prepares both to host an international climate summit and announce its Paris Agreement target of halving U.S. emissions by 2030, all while world-famous activist Greta Thunberg appears on Capitol Hill.

President Biden will announce that he aims to slash the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by between 50 and 52 percent compared to 2005 levels in less than a decade, on the way to his larger goal of eventually reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

The goal is expected to guide domestic climate policy for years to come.

Its announcement comes on the 51st Earth Day celebration, as scientists voice increasing levels of alarm about climate change and how it’s already impacting the planet following a year that included a barrage of natural disasters.

The move sends a signal to international partners about the level of U.S. commitment to fighting climate change as Biden prepares to host a two-day virtual summit on the issue.

All 40 heads of state invited to the White House’s summit, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend, an administration official told reporters on Wednesday.

Also slated to attend are India’s Narendra Modi, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, Japan’s Yoshihide Suga, Germany’s Angela Merkel and Pope Francis.

According to a schedule released by the State Department, the summit’s first day will start with a session titled “Raising Our Climate Ambition,” which will be opened by Biden and Vice President Harris.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry and multiple heads of state including Putin, Xi and more are listed as participants in the session.

It will be followed by one called “Investing in Climate Solutions” featuring Kerry, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese and leaders including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as well as the CEOs of banks including Bank of America and Citigroup.

Thursday’s portion of the summit will also feature breakout sessions titled “Adaptation and Resilience,” “Climate Action at All Levels,” “Climate Security” and “Nature-based Solutions” and include appearances from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

Friday’s sessions will focus on climate innovation and economic opportunities.

But given its importance to national climate policy going forward, outside observers will give much of their attention to the emissions target.

A number of businesses, environmental groups and European leaders had called on the U.S. to reduce its emissions by half by 2030, though some progressive organizations have sought a reduction of at least 70 percent.

Either way, the announcement marks a major shift from the Trump administration, which pulled the country out of the Paris Agreement, arguing that it was burdensome for business and workers.

Unlike his predecessor, who has referred to climate change as a “hoax,” Biden has said that it’s among the major crises he hopes to address during his presidency.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Thunberg will testify at a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing titled “The Role of Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Preventing Action on the Climate Crisis.”

Thunberg, who first rose to prominence by striking from school to bring awareness to the issue, has become a leading figure in the climate movement.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), chair of the panel’s subcommittee on the environment, said in a statement to The Hill that the hearing will outline goals of repealing deductions for certain costs related to drilling and getting rid of their ability to take other business practices to receive tax benefits.

“We appreciate that President Biden ran on ending fossil fuel subsidies. But the details matter. Exactly four months into this administration, progressives are looking for tangible and specific commitments from the Administration to follow through on its own platform,” Khanna said.

Earth Day will also be marked with demonstrations from outside groups, with Washingtonian reporting that activists with environmental group Extinction Rebellion DC say they will pile “heaps of cow shit” outside the White House “in response to Biden’s bullshit climate plan.”

Activists with various groups are also expected to bring a “climate clock” to D.C. to highlight the urgency. 

As the world continues to confront the coronavirus pandemic, many in the District and around the world will be celebrating Earth Day online rather than in person.

Over the past few days, including Thursday, EarthDay.org has held virtual events featuring administration officials, activists and celebrities including Kristen Bell.

The week has already seen numerous other climate-related events, including one from House Republicans highlighting their priorities and the reintroduction of the Green New Deal resolution by Democrats.