In a bold move weeks before the transition of power, President Joe Biden has initiated a sweeping ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling affecting considerable portions of the United States' coastlines. This directive encompasses a vast segment of the Atlantic coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico, along with the Pacific coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of the Bering Sea off Alaska.
This decision is the latest in a series of last-minute climate-related actions by the Biden administration as Donald Trump prepares to reclaim the presidency. Trump, who has promised to reverse Biden's environmental policies, criticized the ban as "ridiculous," asserting his intention to lift it "immediately" upon taking office.
In announcing the ban, Biden underscored the potential for irreversible environmental damage from offshore drilling, stating, "Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs."
Biden's ban is enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, empowering presidents to withdraw specific areas from drilling activities. However, a 2019 court ruling clarified that this law does not permit presidents to unilaterally overturn previous bans, suggesting that any attempt to reverse this recent action by Trump may have to navigate congressional hurdles.
Despite his support for expanding fossil fuel production—marked by familiar slogans like "Drill, baby, drill"—Trump has previously employed the same law to protect certain marine regions, specifically off Florida's coast during his first term in office. Biden's new legislation aims to place lasting protections on these regions, extending over 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of ocean territory, without an expiration date.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. While environmental organizations hailed it as a monumental victory, calling for continued efforts to safeguard coastal ecosystems, the American Petroleum Institute raised concerns regarding the potential impact on energy security. Its president, Mike Sommers, urged Congress to counter this decision and recommit to a pro-energy leasing policy.
As the political landscape shifts with Trump's impending inauguration set for January 20, speculation mounts regarding potential legal challenges to Biden's decision. The Supreme Court could ultimately play a critical role, particularly given its current Republican majority.
Environmentalists hope this ban could enhance the U.S. commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change effectively. The International Energy Agency has underscored the importance of curtailing global oil and gas demand by 5% annually to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C—an essential step for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
