Biden Imposes Oil and Gas Drilling Ban Along Most U.S. Coastline Just Weeks Before Trump’s Inauguration | US News
President Joe Biden has prohibited future offshore oil and gas drilling along significant portions of the US coastline, just weeks before Donald Trump assumes office.
This decision will not affect large areas of the Gulf of Mexico, where most US offshore drilling occurs, but it will safeguard coastlines in California, Florida, and several other states.
The action will protect over 625 million acres of federal waters and will almost certainly require congressional action to reverse.
The White House stated that Mr. Biden believes that “the environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling in these areas outweigh their limited fossil fuel resource potential”.
He has “now conserved” more than 670 million acres of America’s lands and waters, “more than any other president in history”, as indicated in a statement.
In response, Mr. Trump promised: “It’ll be changed on day one. I can change it immediately.”
The move by Joe Biden comes ahead of Donald Trump taking office later this month. File pic: AP
Mr. Biden, whose term concludes in two weeks, utilized his authority to safeguard regions along the east and west coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea.
He stated: “My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs.”
“As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we transition to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren.”
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Mr. Trump has promised to pursue what he terms American “energy dominance” globally, aiming to enhance US oil and gas drilling while moving away from Mr. Biden’s emphasis on climate change.
Environmental advocates applauded Mr. Biden’s decision, asserting that new oil and gas drilling must be greatly reduced to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming.
This follows preliminary data indicating that 2024 was the hottest recorded year, with experts anticipating 2025 will also rank among the warmest.
