Commentary
In a speech given to his most ardent allies and climate activists in Somerset, Massachusetts, last week, President Joe Biden asserted: “Climate change is literally an existential threat to our nation and to the world. … This is an emergency, an emergency, and I will look at it that way. … As President, I’ll use my executive powers to combat the climate crisis in the absence of congressional actions.”
Though Biden has thus far abstained from formally declaring a national emergency, this becomes more likely by the day. Such a declaration would amount to an end-run around democratic processes and have dramatic consequences upon the integrity of our democratic institutions, further eroding the capacity of the legislative and judicial branches to provide a meaningful check upon an already powerful executive branch. Moreover, it would set an alarming precedent for future arrogation of power under future administrations….