"These goals cannot possibly be met without major sacrifices for Americans. Some might argue that sacrifices should be made to help the climate. However, this NDC still would make no noticeable impact on global GHG emissions because the real problem comes from countries such as China, Russia and India."

Optimism, though, should be tempered. Under the new pledges, global emissions in 2030 would be expected to be 1,197 million metric tons lower than under the old pledges, but 71 percent of that difference is from the United States alone, meaning Biden’s ambition has not yet been widely reciprocated.

"Thacker Pass, located on 5,500 acres of federal land near the border with Oregon, was one of several mining and energy projects the Trump administration expedited for review during the pandemic. New Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has not weighed in on the project publicly, but the mine would be compatible with the clean energy agenda of the Biden administration, which includes a prioritization of boosting U.S. development of critical minerals."

"The oldest and most experienced environmentalists often aren’t lauded for their efforts to steward our planet. Farmers have been bettering our planet since before it was cool, and they have been improving their methods and prioritizing sustainability for centuries through natural solutions, such as the deployment of no-till crops and voluntary participation in carbon markets."

"For several years, America has led the world in reducing emissions, in good years and bad. But President Biden’s promise will require Americans to cut emissions at a rate that we’ve only ever seen in bad years. To fulfill his promise, we will have to reduce emissions four times more than our average reduction during years of economic growth."

"Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware urged the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt strict anti-pollution standards that would end sales of new, gas-powered vehicles by 2035."

"As a recent report by the Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions reminds us, the proven way to lessen carbon emissions at a global scale is to implement policies that promote trade freedom around the world, through which policymakers can bring the less-developed countries up the economic ladder 'by rejecting socialism (i.e., shared misery) and embracing the proven principles of free market capitalism.'"

"America’s natural gas utilities are committed to being part of the clean energy future and have a proven pathway to get there."

"Enter the anti-development green lobby. Enter the Democratic Party politics that push the 'Green New Deal' that envisions a rapid 'energy transition' to renewables and electric vehicles and the abolition of fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine. The sparks will inevitably fly when the traditional priorities of these interest groups and policy goals collide with the realities on the ground."