Congressional Democrats have called on President Joe Biden to declare a “climate emergency,” citing wildfires in Canada that caused smoke to drift into the eastern United States, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.
A declaration of a climate emergency would give Biden sweeping powers to act, with a ban on oil exports and the redirection of funds to boost “clean” energy construction projects among possible courses of action, according to Bloomberg News. Biden considered declaring a climate emergency in 2022, but did not do so after the Inflation Reduction Act passed with the help of Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Smoke from the wildfires in Canada triggered air quality alerts across the eastern United States, and reduced visibility in New York City and other parts of the country.
