On February 18, 2021, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) withdrew draft guidance on greenhouse gases.
On March 31, 2016, CEQ issued guidance to help agencies account for greenhouse gases in conducting environmental impact review under the National Environmental Policy Act. On April 5, 2017, CEQ withdrew this guidance pursuant to President Trump's Executive Order on “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth," and on June 26, 2019, CEQ proposed new draft guidance.
On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order titled “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,” which directs CEQ to rescind the 2019 draft greenhouse guidance and review, revise, and update its 2016 greenhouse gas guidance. Today's action rescinds the 2019 draft guidance and clarifies that CEQ will separately review the 2016 guidance.