WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden’s decision to re-enter the Paris Climate Agreement and re-establish U.S. leadership on climate solutions is welcome news for wildlife and people alike. The National Wildlife Federation also heralded Biden’s immediate actions to restore Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, halt destructive oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and reverse more than 100 regulatory rollbacks and agency assaults on public health, clean air and water, and the environment. These actions are essential to creating jobs, revitalizing the economies of frontline and rural communities, investing in innovative clean energy, and helping wildlife recover and thrive.

“President Joe Biden is sending a crystal clear signal on his very first day that American will lead on climate change at home and abroad,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Unfortunately, we cannot build the future we desperately need without first unwinding the destructive acts of the past four years — and, given their indisputable and increasingly devastating impacts, we have no time to waste. We applaud President Biden for taking these critical first steps on our long journey to rebuild our economy, revitalize frontline communities, improve our health, reduce pollution, restore our public lands, respect Indigenous communities, and protect our wildlife heritage. We look forward to working with the Biden administration and Congress to implement ambitious, bipartisan solutions as big as the challenges we face.”