Biden to issue new mandates to reduce emissions by 50% on cars, trucks by 2030: climate czar

Biden's climate czar, John Kerry, told Yahoo News that Joe Biden plans on pushing more mandates, especially on cars and trucks in the US, to help attain the goal of cutting US greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50 percent by 2030 and for transportation vehicles to produce zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Kerry was asked about Biden's $739 billion Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $369 billion on climate change goals and promised a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by decade's end and Kerry said, "Well, we're doing a lot more than just the IRA. The IRA is a package that in and of itself can get the 40%. But in addition to that, the president is issuing executive orders."

"There'll be changes on automobile, on light truck, heavy truck, heavy-duty, a number of initiatives that are being taken by states, subnational, cities. They really kept us in the game, frankly, during the Trump administration, when he pulled out of the agreement," he added.

The Biden white house has pushed for consumers to move to electric vehicles and have offered tax credits for those who purchase expensive vehicles.

During the Trump administration, Kerry said, 70 percent of new energy came from renewables but he only speaks of Trump "reluctantly."

Kerry addressed what would happen if a new, Republican, administration took office in 2024 and undid Biden's dictates. 

"Achieving our goal is not exclusively dependent on what the federal government says or does. It's critical, but not wholly dependent. Corporations all around America, the largest corporations in the country, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, I mean, you know, and a whole bunch of other disciplines, I mean, you've got Boeing, you've got Delta Airlines, United Airlines, a whole bunch of folks have adopted a net zero 2050 target," Kerry said.

"Right now, we're behind," Kerry continued. "I mean, we're seriously behind. And that was the meaning of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report that just came out. It's another kick in the you-know-what to get people moving. So that's our fight, is to get people to do all the things we can do."

Kerry said people will have to change their lifestyles to accommodate Biden's climate goals, especially when it comes to the use of gas for a utility.

"Unless somebody were able to provide that with zero carbon intensity, I mean if you can do that. Now that's not doable today," Kerry said. "So yes, gas at a certain point becomes a serious challenge here. Let's say you're going to take a coal plant, you want to shut it and you're going to do gas instead. For about the next seven, eight years or so, that's something that you could do because it's an immediate 30% to 50% reduction in the emissions. But after that period of time, we have to meet the net zero 2050. So you've got to be able to reduce gas emissions also. That's the challenge for the industry."