Research Report
Analysis of policies and legislation for the implementation of carbon neutrality by the Biden administration in the United States
Ⅰ. Backgrounds and Purposes
▶ The importance of the 2020 Biden-Trump election
○ The 2020 US presidential election is an opportunity to determine the future direction of US climate change, energy, and environmental policies and legislation, and is a turning point that has an important impact on the effective settlement of a new climate system based on the Paris Agreement.
- Candidate Biden declared the succession of the Obama administration's climate and environmental policies and the realization of the Democratic Party's Green New Deal, and presented promises such as the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement and active climate cooperation.
- President Trump insisted on the continuity of isolated climate and energy policies, such as maintaining the ineffectiveness of responding to climate change, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, and expanding fossil energy development policies.
▶ The Biden Administration's Establishment and Future Prospects
○ As Biden was elected as a candidate in the 2020 presidential election, the future US climate and energy policy changed in a different direction from that of the Trump administration.
- In January 2021, the Biden administration was established, and after President Biden took office, the US federal government's climate and energy policy direction changed, such as announcing an executive order to change the climate and energy policy of the Trump administration.
- It is expected that the US will actively restore leadership in the field of international cooperation on climate change, such as the return of the Paris Agreement.
Ⅱ. Major Content
▶ Main contents and achievements of the Obama administration’s climate change and energy policies
○ Climate action plans such as Green New Deal and greenhouse gas reduction and active international climate cooperation leadership
- Reinforcement of performance standards in the transportation sector and active use of financial incentives
- Elimination of coal power generation in the power sector
- Reinforcement of oil and gas industry regulations and expansion of renewable energy
- Support for greenhouse gas reduction in land and agriculture
- Greenhouse gas reduction and offset through ecological protection
▶ Since the 2016 Trump-Clinton presidential election, the two candidates presented policy goals in completely different directions for the future of the US climate and environment. As a result, Trump, who declared the Obama administration's aggressive climate and energy policy retreat, was elected. Since then, the Trump administration has maintained a passive position in the U.S. climate and energy fields from 2016 to 2020.
▶ Main contents and progress of the Trump administration’s climate change and energy policy
○ Main contents and directions of the Trump administration’s climate change and energy policy
- Raising fundamental questions about climate change
- Neutralization of the Federal Environment Agency and withdrawal of the Obama administration's climate change policy stance
- Withdrawal of the plan to phase out coal power generation in the electric power sector
- Relaxation of emission standards for greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide, such as methane
- Easing performance standards in the transportation sector such as automobile fuel efficiency
- Deregulation and development support for oil and gas business
Ⅲ. Expected Effects
▶ Broaden understanding of the Biden administration's climate change response policies and major contents and future prospects of international cooperation
▶ Draw implications for our laws and policies through the analysis of the Infrastructure Investment Act, which will serve as the basis for US climate change response and energy-related laws in the future