Location: West Virginia

President Biden delivered his first State of the Union on Tuesday night, addressing the US response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as a variety of domestic policy concerns – from COVID to inflation to prescription drug prices. He only spoke briefly about climate change, highlighting the cost-saving and job-creation benefits of “Build Back Better” policies that would invest in home weatherization, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.
President Biden also announced the release of 30 billion barrels of oil from the strategic reserve (booo!) and, notably, failed to even mention the recent IPCC report, which details “terrifying” current and projected climate impacts. Just across the street, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on West Virginia vs. EPA, which could undermine the agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon emission from power plants.
The Lab last covered the “state of the climate movement” back in 2019, when Democrats had just regained control of the House, we were writing explainers on Green New Deal, and global pandemics were the stuff of scary movies. All of which is to say… it was a really different world!