Description

ITEP Earth Day Special Presentation

April 22, 2021 2:00 PM Pacific Time

Biden-Harris Administration: How Climate and Executive Orders Can Move the Ball for Responding to Tribal Climate Impacts and Issues.

Biden-Harris Administration: How Climate and Executive Orders Can Move the Ball for Responding to Tribal Climate Impacts and Issues.
Presented by: Pilar Thomas, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and a partner with Quarles & Brady LLP, Ms. Thomas also served in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration working on water and treaty rights.

Within several days of inauguration, President Biden issued a series of executive orders that, if implemented as designed, will be a great boost to Indian Country's efforts to identify, mitigate, adapt and respond to climate change impacts. These executives orders, which promote a "whole of government" approach to climate change action, racial and economic equity, environmental justice, and transformation of the energy economy, specifically apply to the federal government's responsibility to consult with federally recognized Indian tribes and protect tribal interests. This presentation will provide a summary of the relevant executive orders, an update on what the federal government is doing to implement these orders, and recommendations of what tribes, tribal organizations, tribal members, and others who support Indian County can do to participate in these efforts.