Biden's EPA Gets Failing Grade From Climate Change Advocates

A recent report card from a climate change advocacy organization shows the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] is failing to deliver on President Joe Biden's climate goals.

Biden is approaching the midpoint of his presidential term, and many are looking at his actions thus far with increasing scrutiny. Biden made steep climate promises during his campaign, such as reaching 100 percent clean electricity by 2035. Some of his actions have progressed those goals, such as passing the Inflation Reduction Act into law to funnel $370 billion into climate and environmental investments.

However, some organizations are critiquing the EPA's execution on federal goals to address climate change. Evergreen Action ranked 10 of EPA's key goals, and the EPA only received a passing grade on two of the rules listed in Evergreen Action's report card.

Evergreen Action published its report Tuesday, and the analysis shows EPA is lagging in the majority of its key climate change and air quality regulations for the power sector. Two of the EPA's rules are on track, two rules have seen no action at all, and six have been delayed.

Evergreen Action co-founder and executive director Jamal Raad told Newsweek the EPA is missing self-imposed deadlines. If action isn't taken on its clean energy rules by the end of this year, the EPA risks not accomplishing the rules before Biden's first term expires.

"They are falling behind in their own metrics," Raad said. "If they don't start implementing these rules by end of [Biden's term], they are subject to the Congressional Review Act, and a Republican president or Republican congress can overturn the rules and [EPA will] not able to make similar rules in the future. These rules are really important."

The report encouraged EPA to go further faster to finalize the rules during Biden's term to keep the administration's climate goals within reach. EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll told Newsweek that the EPA was delivering on what it promised.

"From day one, President Biden promised bold action to combat the climate crisis, protect people's health, and deliver economic benefits for all. EPA is delivering on this commitment, having finalized strong rules to phase down super-pollutant HFCs, and to establish the strongest ever light-duty vehicle emissions standards in U.S. history," Carroll said. "We will continue to move aggressively to advance ambitious proposals that protect people and the planet, building on the momentum provided by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act. We are working expeditiously to craft rules in a way that follows the best available science, follows the law and will stand the test of time."

University of California, Santa Barbara associate professor Leah Stokes told Newsweek the EPA has had good reason to move slowly. She said the EPA likely waited for Inflation Reduction Act to pass, which pushes more than $370 billion into climate and environmental justice investments. However, the bill became law in August and EPA is still missing its own deadlines.

"It should be noted there have been impediments," Raad said. "The EPA had to clean up [former president Donald] Trump's mess. They had to deal with Trump budgets for most of the time they've been in power and are operating under Trump staffing, but there's no longer any excuses not to take action."

Stokes said the Inflation Reduction Act was a giant leap toward reaching Biden's climate goals, and she applauded the Biden administration for its actions. The EPA has lagged on execution, and Stokes said the Inflation Reduction Act could aid the EPA in acting faster.

"In fairness to [the EPA], there are staffing shortages and they have lots to do," Stokes told Newsweek. "To some extent, the Biden administration was waiting for [the Inflation Reduction Act] to pass the Senate, so it's understandable things are behind. Now that bill is a law and has been for months now, so we need the Biden EPA to be stepping up and moving a lot faster when it comes to these power sector rules."

Stokes doubts the failing EPA report will have any impact on midterm elections. She said even with the stalled progress from the EPA, Biden has "delivered big" on climate.

"The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest climate investment in American history," she said. "I think there's been big progress on climate."

Raad said he hopes the Evergreen Action report will "ring the alarm bells" and spur the EPA into action.

"The time for excuses is over," he said.

Update: 10/05/22 5:17 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll.