The White House creates a new climate-focused division within the Office of Science and Technology Policy

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Benson will serve as Deputy Director of Energy and Chief Energy Transition Strategist at OSTP, the White House said in a news release. Costa Samaras, an engineer and policy analyst formerly at Carnegie Mellon University, will serve as Assistant Principal Director of Energy and Chief Advisor for Energy Policy.

The OSTP Energy Division “will develop national clean energy innovation plans to ensure America’s continued leadership in clean energy innovation and ensure the United States achieves net zero emissions by 2050,” he said. affirmed the White House.

Benson and Samaras will work with the Biden administration’s science and climate advisors, including White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and OSTP Deputy Director for Climate and Environment Jane Lubchenco.

“Dr. Benson and Dr. Samaras are leading energy experts who will help us achieve an emissions-free future where clean electricity is the cheapest and most reliable electricity, where clean fuels are the cheapest fuels. and where we enable equal access to clean energy services for all across the country, ”OSTP President & Director Eric Lander, Science Advisor, said in a statement.

Lander continued: “Their leadership in OSTP’s new Energy Division will be a key asset as America works to pave the way for a thriving, zero-carbon economy by 2050.”

Benson has been at Stanford University since 2007 and is co-director of the Stanford Center for Carbon Storage and the Stanford Carbon Removal Initiative. It investigates “technologies and pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including geological storage of CO2 in deep underground formations and energy systems analysis for a low-carbon future,” according to Stanford University.

The creation of the new division underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing the global climate crisis. The president said he wants the United States to lead the world in the fight against the climate crisis and is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% -52% of 2005 emissions levels by 2030.

The biggest piece of Biden’s massive economic spending – the centerpiece of its internal agenda – focuses on climate. The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives but could undergo further amendments in the Senate, would provide nearly $ 570 billion in tax credits and investments aimed at fighting climate change. The bill has been significantly reduced from Biden’s initial proposal, but offers key benefits for the climate administration.

Additionally, the new infrastructure law that Biden recently signed allocates nearly $ 50 billion for climate resilience, which includes replacing roads to withstand extreme rainfall, treating forests to prevent fires, and shoring up reservoirs. which fell to new lows this year during an incredible drought.

Presidential Special Climate Envoy John Kerry recently exposed the Biden administration’s four main climate goals at a major summit in Glasgow: to increase global ambition to contain rising temperatures; persuade countries to commit to action in this decade; pursue financial and adaptation efforts to vulnerable communities; and the completion of negotiations on guidelines for the implementation of the Paris climate agreement.

Kerry, who was then President Barack Obama’s Secretary of State and has worked extensively on climate issues, is a cabinet-level official in the Biden administration and sits on the National Security Council.

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