Climate activist: Biden's plan the 'bare minimum'


"I don't think you can say in any serious way that [President Biden] is treating climate change like the emergency that it is," Evan Weber, the co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, told Politico, adding that the White House's plan to tackle the issue is not the "historic commitment" Biden describes it as. "It's scraps," Weber said. "It's the bare minimum."
Biden's climate adviser Gina McCarthy, along with senior White House adviser Anita Dunn, sent out a memo this week stating that while the bipartisan infrastructure deal the administration recently struck left out "critical initiatives on climate change" proposed by Biden, a future bill, which the White House aims to pass via budget reconciliation, will include them.
But, Politico notes, there's no guarantee that will happen, at least not without some serious infighting among Democrats and intense pressure from climate activists like Weber — who view this summer as the "tipping point" for climate change (there have indeed been several bouts of extreme weather across the United States and around the world in recent weeks) — on moderate Democratic lawmakers. Read more at Politico.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Earth's climate is in the era of 'global weirding'
The Explainer Weather is harder to predict and more extreme
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
What is Kash Patel's net worth?
The Explainer The FBI Director has a number of unique revenue streams
By David Faris Published
-
TV to watch in March, including 'The Studio' and 'Paul American'
the week recommends A true crime story adaptation, a reality show about the ultra-American Paul brothers and a new late night series from John Mulaney
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Earth's climate is in the era of 'global weirding'
The Explainer Weather is harder to predict and more extreme
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Hot to go: extreme heat can make people age faster
Under the radar New research shows warming temperatures can affect biological age
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Parts of California are sinking and affecting sea level
Under the radar Climate change is bringing the land to the sea
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
A new dam in the Panama Canal could solve water-level problems but create housing ones
Under the radar Droughts are becoming more common
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
World's largest iceberg is on a collision path with remote islands
Under the radar Penguins and seals may be at risk
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslides
Speed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Animals that are adapting to climate change
The Explainer Some species have already altered their habits
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
How will home insurance change after LA's fires?
Today's Big Question Climate disasters leave insurance industry in crisis
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published