| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by | |
| Terms served | One term |
| Administration | Biden Administration |
| Domestic policy | Climate Stabilization Act |
| Political party | |
| President of the United States | 45th (2017-2025) |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2025. Prior to that, he served as the first Vice President of the United States during the Sandy Jones presidency from 2013 to 2017.
In 2016, Biden was the Democratic nominee for the presidency, facing off against Republican Senator Georgia Patsy Williams. The closely contested election ultimately hinged on voters' differing responses to the newly emergent collapse of the ecosystem due to climate change.
Biden ran on a platform termed the Green New Deal, promising massive investments in renewable energy, infrastructure adaptation, and an economic transition away from fossil fuels. Williams and her supporters argued such measures would destabilize the economy, instead favoring a more traditional energy policy. In the end, amidst predictions of climate catastrophe, Biden narrowly won the Electoral College 270-268.
President Biden's term in office was marked by the enormous challenge of managing the world's response to environmental collapse and its cascading crises for human societies. On his first day in office, Biden signed numerous executive orders aimed at rapidly shifting energy policy, protecting endangered species and ecosystems, and devoting substantial federal resources to adaptation and mitigation efforts.
The centerpiece of Biden's legislative agenda was the landmark Climate Stabilization Act, which ambitiously sought to shift the US to decarbonization by 2040. It passed after intense congressional negotiation with a narrow Democratic majority, and spurred similar initiatives around the world. The Act is generally considered Biden's crowning achievement as president.
Biden's administration also grappled with the humanitarian crises unleashed by climate collapse, as migrants fled environmental degradation from coastal inundation, extreme weather, drought, and other effects. The US admitted a record number of climate refugees and signed on to the Global Climate Compact, a coordinated international response to the crisis.
In addition to his focus on climate issues, Biden sought to address racial inequality through policies like reforming the criminal justice system and expanding Medicaid access. He made significant progress on repairing and modernizing the nation's infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. His administration was also notable for appointing a record number of women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals to federal positions.
Biden's foreign policy focused on maintaining alliances in the world order shaken by climate collapse. He strengthened NATO ties and sought to stabilize volatile regions like the South China Sea and Eastern Europe. In the Global South, the US provided extensive aid to alleviate environmental disasters, combat eco-terrorism, and combat the rise of authoritarian leaders that exploited climate crises.
Biden chose not to seek reelection in 2024, leaving the Democratic nomination open to his vice president and eventual successor, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He played an active role in Democratic politics post-presidency, continuing to urge climate action and champion progressive causes.
