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The Biden Administration’s Next Big Climate Decision

Summary

In this article by Bill McKibben, published in The New Yorker on September 22, 2023, the author discusses the Biden Administration's upcoming decision regarding the Calcasieu Pass 2 (C.P.2) liquefied-natural-gas (L.N.G.) export terminal project in Louisiana. McKibben highlights that C.P.2 represents a major fossil-fuel project that could have a significant impact on the planet's reliance on fossil fuels, contrary to climate goals. He emphasizes the importance of considering the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with this project, which are estimated to be twenty times larger than those from the oil drilling at the Willow Project. The article discusses the rapid expansion of L.N.G. exports from the United States and argues that such projects should not proceed if the world is to achieve a net-zero emissions target. It also addresses the environmental and community impacts of the project in Louisiana, where poor communities of color are disproportionately affected. The article calls on the Biden Administration to demonstrate clear climate leadership by reconsidering the approval of the C.P.2 project and focusing on clean energy alternatives.

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