President Joe Biden on Friday plans to sign an executive order that would make “environmental justice” the mission of federal agencies.
The executive order directs federal agencies to put more focus on environmental policies that do harm to communities and also establishes a new Office of Environmental Justice within the White House, according to Reuters.
Additionally, the order would also require federal agencies to notify communities if toxic substances are released from a federal facility.
According to the White House, the Office of Environmental Justice will be working within the White House Council on Environmental Quality and be led by a federal chief environmental justice officer tasked with coordinating the implementation of environmental justice policies.
The order aims to better protect overburdened communities from pollution, confront existing and legacy barriers and injustices, promote the latest science, and create accountability.
The Biden administration plans to publish the first-ever overburdened communities, launch a White House campaign for environmental justice, and work to combat plastic pollution in communities, among other new actions.
The Democratic administration wants to ensure that poverty, race, and ethnic status do not lead to worse exposure to pollution and environmental harm. Biden is trying to draw a contrast between his agenda and that of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, according to the Associated Press.
GOP lawmakers have called for less regulation of oil production to lower energy prices, while the Biden administration says the GOP policies would give benefits to highly profitable oil companies and surrender the renewable energy sector to the Chinese.
The president’s announcement on Friday afternoon will be alongside environmental justice leaders, climate advocates, and community leaders in the Rose Garden.
Meanwhile, Vice President Harris will be in Florida to announce new steps to strengthen coastal resilience to climate change impacts and extreme storms, according to the White House.
