The continuous and detrimental effects of climate change are relentless and will not cease until the world takes action. Environmental scientists have given deadlines of dates after which insurmountable destruction to our planet will be permanent, and yet it seems as if the United States does virtually nothing to fight against it. While action has been promised, these campaign fallacies are never followed up by real or lasting change. As a global superpower, this country has an obligation to take environmental initiative, and if it doesn’t soon, we all will suffer the consequences.

On March 13, the Biden administration approved the Willow Project, an oil drilling plan that will barrel around 600 tons of oil in the next 30 years. This is incredibly regressive in America’s goals to reduce carbon emissions, and exposes the contradictions of the Biden Administration.

At Biden’s inauguration, he made environmental promises that directly contradict the approval of this project. His proclamation of “no more drilling on federal lands, period” is especially prevalent considering this project solidifies 30 years of drilling on previously untouched federal land. The project was scaled down by the Biden Administration from five to three drilling pads, but this only reduces the total amount of oil acquired by 10 percent. This is a marginal win in comparison to the effects this project will have.

While the Biden administration still should be held accountable for this project, it’s important to note that ConocoPhillips, the company orchestrating the Willow Project, already had a lot of foreground on the development. It was initially approved late in Trump’s presidency, and Biden claims he may not have had legal basis to completely reject the project. Nevertheless, the administration did not show enough resistance to the passing of the oil drilling project, and didn’t attempt to veto the project. This exposes the need for legislative policies prioritizing the environment.

The passing of the Willow Project shows the constant battle between prioritizing the economy and the environment. While it is terrible for the environment, the oil industry is a staple in the world economy, and oil is still a major source for most American energy needs. The Willow Project will be somewhat beneficial to the American economy, but this benefit pales in comparison to the effects of continued climate change.

These companies have profited off environmental destruction for years, and they will not stop because of the overarching effects they have on the world. Elected officials need to start creating legislation that will prevent further environmental crises instead of exacerbating it. America has set the goal of lowering carbon emissions to below 2005 standards by 2030. With only 7 years left, the nation has to be incredibly progressive if they are going to achieve their goal.

Nearly 25 percent of U.S. carbon emissions since 2005 have come from oil, gas and coal extracted from public lands and waters leased to the fossil fuel industry. While it isn’t viable to cut out fossil fuels completely from American usage, more efforts can and must be made to incorporate renewable energy sources. The government needs to prioritize the environment and invest in long term energy sources like wind and solar. This can create just as many jobs as well as move the American economy away from its reliance on fossil fuels.