Biden introduces his climate team

WILMINGTON, DEL. — President-elect Joe Biden rolled out an environmental team that he hopes will steer America toward greater action to curb climate change and protect the nation’s air and water.

“We literally have no time to waste,” Biden said as he introduced his choices.

He compared the climate threat to the calamity of the coronavirus pandemic, and he pledged to take action.

“Just like we need a unified national response to COVID19, we need a unified national response to climate change,” he said. “We need to meet the moment with the urgency it demands as we would during any national emergency.”

The approach is a shift from Donald Trump’s presidency, which has been marked by efforts to boost oil and gas production while rolling back government efforts intended to safeguard the environment. The Biden team will try to undo or block many of Trump’s initiatives.

Biden stressed the diversity of a team that he described as “brilliant, qualified, tested and barrier-busting.” He noted that “already there are more people of color in our Cabinet than any Cabinet ever.”

New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland would be the first Native

American to lead the Interior Department, which has wielded influence over the nation’s tribes for generations. Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is in line to be energy secretary.

North Carolina official Michael Regan would be the first Black man to run the Environmental Protection Agency. Biden’s pick to overseetheCouncilonEnvironmental Quality is Brenda Mallory, who would be the first African American to hold the position.

Two other team members do not need confirmation. They are Gina McCarthy, to serve as national climate adviser, and Ali Zaidi, to serve as her deputy.