Biden suspends oil and gas leasing in slew of executive actions on climate change

Biden suspends oil and gas leasing in slew of executive actions on climate change

Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a series of executive orders that prioritize climate change across all levels of government and put the U.S. on track to curb planet-warming carbon emissions.Biden's orders direct the secretary of the Interior Department to halt new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters, and begin a thorough review of existing permits for fossil fuel development.In addition to the pause on leasing, Biden will direct the federal government to conserve 30% of federal lands and water by 2030 and find ways to double offshore wind production by that time.The series of actions kick off the president's agenda to reduce the country's emissions and establish stricter targets under the Paris climate accord, the landmark agreement by nearly 200 nations aimed to mitigate climate change."President Biden is continuing to move us forward at the breadth and the pace that climate science demands," White House national climate advisor Gina McCarthy said at a White House briefing on Wednesday.On his first day in office last week, Biden had the United States re-enter the Paris accord. He also cancelled the permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.During Barack Obama's presidency, the U.S. vowed to