NowThis Politics

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on December 8, 2021, directing the federal government to get to net-zero emissions by 2050. The order will take advantage of the purchasing power of the federal government, spending billions to transition federal vehicles to electric, upgrade federal buildings’ energy efficiency, and run federal operations entirely on carbon-free electricity by 2030.

The order also lays out milestones for the future. By 2035, the federal vehicle fleet should transition to 100% electric vehicle acquisition. 300,000 federally owned buildings will be renovated and updated to have a 50% reduction in emissions by 2032 and be net-zero by 2045. The administration says it will also prioritize low-carbon materials and sustainable products in its supply chain and add huge amounts of clean energy production to the electric grid.

Additionally, the executive order prioritizes several principles and goals to lead the administration in this transition, including 'the achievement of climate-resilient infrastructure,’ 'building a sustainability-focused workforce,’ 'advancing environmental justice and equity,’ ‘prioritizing the purchase of sustainable products,’ and 'accelerating progress through domestic and international partnerships.’

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