Biden acts on coronavirus, climate change and immigration on first day in office

WASHINGTON (The Straits Times/ANN) -- US President Joe Biden signed a slew of executive orders to combat the coronavirus, tackle climate change and reverse his predecessor Donald Trump’s immigration policies on his first day in office.

US President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, after his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States, January 20, 2021.    --Photo agencies

He also signed orders to start the process of rejoining the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Paris Climate Agreement, signalling his commitment that America would once again embrace international institutions and be a global leader.
Mr Biden has written to the United Nations’ Secretary-General stating that the United States intends to remain a member of the WHO, according to the White House.
“His priority is first rebuilding our partnerships and alliances around the world, and regaining America’s seat at the global table,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki at her first press briefing on Wednesday (January 20), in response to a question on Mr Biden’s global priorities.
She added: “You can see that as evidenced in his rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, rejoining the World Health Organisation, his plans to engage with partners and allies and work together to address many of the threats and issues we’re facing around the world.”
Mr Biden dove head first into tackling the four “converging crises” of the pandemic, the economic downturn it caused, climate change and racial injustice.
Though he will focus primarily on domestic issues in his first days in office, the President has acknowledged that tackling the pandemic and climate change in particular will require global cooperation.
His first phone calls with foreign leaders will be with allies and partners, said Ms Psaki, adding that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is first in line on Friday.
“With the state of the nation today, there’s no time to waste,” said Mr Biden in the Oval Office, following a scaled down inaugural parade in Washington after he took his oath of office at the Capitol.
“Some of the executive actions I’m going to be signing today are going to help change the course of the Covid crisis. And we’re going to combat climate change in a way that we haven’t done so far, and advance racial equity and support other under-served communities,” he told reporters.
Wednesday’s executive actions were just “starting points”, said Mr Biden, adding that legislation would also be needed for a lot of his policies.

(Latest Update January 22, 2021)