President Obama has positioned climate change and emissions reductions as a cornerstone of his legacy – but will it withstand a GOP challenge?
The new GOP majority in the Senate hopes to roll back Obama’s EPA actions aimed at cutting carbon emissions. Republicans say the EPA rules will shutter coal-fired power plants and harm the economy, and incoming Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky has said one of his priorities is challenging Obama’s emissions reductions targets.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said she’s confident Obama won’t budge on his climate agenda. “There may be challenges ahead, but the president will do the right thing,” Administrator McCarthy told reporters at a Monitor-hosted breakfast in November.
