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EO 14008Executive OrderBiden · D

Executive Order 14008

Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

Executive Order 14008 establishes climate change as a central pillar of U.S. foreign policy and national security while creating a sweeping government-wide domestic climate framework. It creates new White House offices and interagency bodies, sets a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, pauses new oil and gas leasing on federal lands pending review, and mandates numerous agency reports and plans within 60-120 days. The order also establishes a Civilian Climate Corps, targets conserving 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, and creates mechanisms to prioritize environmental justice and economic revitalization of fossil fuel communities.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 7619

Impact dates

  1. Double offshore wind goal

  2. Carbon pollution-free electricity sector goal

  3. Net-zero emissions economy-wide goal

  4. First annual homeland security climate update due

  5. Federal Chief Sustainability Officer review of action plans

  6. National Intelligence Estimate on climate security

  7. Defense Climate Risk Analysis due

  8. Agency climate action plans due

  9. Environmental justice recommendations due

  10. Climate finance plan due to President

  11. Agency international climate integration strategies due

  12. Federal clean electricity and vehicle procurement strategy due

  13. Civilian Climate Corps strategy due

  14. 30x30 conservation report due

  15. Agricultural and forestry climate strategy due

  16. Kigali Amendment transmittal package to Senate

  17. Secretary of Agriculture stakeholder input collection begins

  18. Secretary of Commerce fisheries stakeholder input begins

  19. Interagency Working Group revitalization report due

Key directives

  • Establish White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy with National Climate Advisor (Sec. 202)
  • Establish National Climate Task Force chaired by National Climate Advisor with cabinet-level membership (Sec. 203)
  • Create Special Presidential Envoy for Climate position (Sec. 102(c))
  • Pause new oil and natural gas leases on public lands/offshore waters pending comprehensive review (Sec. 208)
  • Develop climate finance plan within 90 days (Sec. 102(f))
  • Submit NDC for Paris Agreement in advance of Leaders' Climate Summit (Sec. 102(e))
  • Prepare Kigali Amendment ratification package within 60 days (Sec. 102(j))
  • National Intelligence Estimate on climate security impacts within 120 days (Sec. 103(b))
  • Defense Climate Risk Analysis within 120 days (Sec. 103(c))
  • Federal clean electricity and vehicle procurement strategy within 90 days (Sec. 205)
  • Agency climate action plans within 120 days (Sec. 211(a))
  • Civilian Climate Corps strategy within 90 days (Sec. 215)

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Rejoining Paris Agreement process
  • Pause on new oil and gas leases on federal lands
  • Establishment of White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy
  • Establishment of National Climate Task Force
  • Establishment of Special Presidential Envoy for Climate position
  • Establishment of Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities
  • Establishment of White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council and Advisory Council

Near term (90d)

  • Climate finance plan due (Sec. 102(f))
  • Federal clean electricity and vehicle procurement strategy due (Sec. 205)
  • Civilian Climate Corps strategy due (Sec. 215)
  • 30x30 conservation report due (Sec. 216)
  • Agricultural and forestry climate strategy due (Sec. 216(b)(ii))
  • Agency international climate integration plans due (Sec. 103(a))
  • Interagency Working Group report on revitalization mechanisms due (Sec. 218(b)(ii))
  • Secretary of Agriculture stakeholder input collection (first 60 days) (Sec. 216(b)(i))
  • Secretary of Commerce fisheries stakeholder input (first 60 days) (Sec. 216(c))
  • Kigali Amendment transmittal package due (Sec. 102(j))

Long term

  • Net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050 (Sec. 201)
  • Carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035 (Sec. 205)
  • Double offshore wind by 2030 (Sec. 207)
  • Conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030 (Sec. 216)
  • Annual defense climate updates starting January 2022 (Sec. 103(d))
  • Annual homeland security climate updates starting January 2022 (Sec. 103(e))
  • Annual agency progress reports on climate action plans (Sec. 211(c))
  • Annual environmental justice performance scorecard (Sec. 220)

Risks & tensions

  • Lease pause on federal lands may face legal challenges from industry and affected states; 'to the extent consistent with applicable law' qualifier suggests anticipated litigation risk (Sec. 208)
  • Vague 'to the extent consistent with applicable law' language appears repeatedly, creating implementation uncertainty across fossil fuel subsidy elimination, procurement standards, and leasing decisions
  • Tension between rapid clean energy deployment and 'robust protection for our lands, waters, and biodiversity' may create permitting conflicts (Sec. 207)
  • Environmental justice commitments rely on 'existing appropriations' and budget requests, making them vulnerable to congressional funding decisions (Sec. 215, 220)
  • Annual reporting requirements starting January 2022 create ongoing accountability mechanisms but no enforcement consequences for non-compliance are specified
  • Goal of conserving 30% of lands and waters by 2030 lacks clear federal authority to achieve unilaterally; heavily dependent on state/local/Tribal and private landowner voluntary participation
  • Climate finance plan for developing countries may face congressional opposition depending on cost and design
Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad · Executive Orders