Climate Politics

Biden Pushed to Seize 'Climate Emergency' Powers After Manchin Blocks Support

Federal regulations may be Biden’s best remaining weapon against climate change, but they can only do so much in that fight.

President Joe Biden

Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg

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Pressure is building on President Joe Biden to deploy executive powers in the uphill fight against climate change after Senator Joe Manchin halted landmark legislation long sought by environmentalists.

Manchin’s decision to hold back support for climate and tax provisions in a broad spending bill leaves Biden with fewer options to rein in greenhouse gas emissions. And it will force the president to rely more heavily on federal regulation—though new rules will face intense legal scrutiny.