Biden Administration elevates consideration of GHG emissions and climate change in federal agency approvals by rescinding Trump guidance and reviving Obama guidance.
by Janice M. Schneider, Stacey L. VanBelleghem, and Devin M. O’Connor
On February 19, 2021, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) published a Federal Register Notice rescinding the June 2019 “Draft National Environmental Policy Act Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions” (2019 Draft GHG Guidance) issued by the Trump Administration. This action, directed by President Biden’s Executive Order 13990, “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” (January 20 EO), reinstates Obama Administration policy and requires further review and updating on how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the effects of climate change are considered in environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).