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President Trump's Executive Orders On Climate Policy Could Threaten L.A.'s 2024 Olympic Bid
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The saga of L.A.'s bid for the 2024 Olympics continues, this time with President Trump's executive order to dismantle key Obama-era climate policies looming over the International Olympic Committee's decision. Trump's executive order comes just days after Paris (L.A.'s only competitor for the games) secured a certificate from the International Organization for Standardization recognizing its environmentally sustainable approach to the city's own 2024 Olympics bid.
“Environmental responsibility is part of our DNA,” Jerome Lachaze, a Paris bid committee official, noted, reports the Los Angeles Times. “Since the beginning of the bid, we have been driven by a strong environmental ambition, in accordance with the Paris accord.”
“We have devised a comprehensive project that promotes a low carbon impact, responsible management, financial transparency and a unique Games legacy,” said Tony Estanguet, co-chairman of Paris 2024. “We have the ambition to offer Games that will have a positive, lasting impact on French society and on the Olympic movement.”
LA2024 has not responded to LAist's request for comment at the time of publication.
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According to Politico, President Trump's executive order will halt "efforts to reduce the carbon pollution of electric utilities, oil and gas drillers and coal miners." The order will not, however, remove the United States from the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord. In addition to the executive order, the Trump administration has also recently rolled back several other Obama-era environmental orders including an increase vehicle fuel efficiency, and a halt to construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
On Tuesday, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti released a statement on Trump's order.
“President Trump’s moves today to undo the Clean Power Plan and roll back other key climate policies undermine the important efforts — throughout the country and the world — to tackle the single greatest threat and economic opportunity of our time: climate change," Garcetti's statement began. "...The administration is taking clear steps to undermine not only the federal government's commitment to meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, but also U.S. leadership on public health and growing the clean energy economy."
Garcetti added that L.A.'s commitment to fighting climate change will continue regardless of federal policies.
No matter what happens in Washington, we will work to meet our Sustainable City pLAn goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, move toward zero emissions transportation, and pursue our vision of a 100% clean energy future. Los Angeles has also divested from the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will be completely coal-free by 2025. Nothing can stop us from investing in electric cars and mass transit; from ending our reliance on coal; from installing cool roofs and pavement; or from leading America in solar power. Los Angeles will uphold the obligation to preserve the health of our planet, protect our most vulnerable residents, and create a 21st century economy — and working with my fellow ‘climate mayors,’ we will continue doing our part to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement in cities across the country.
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