ASSOCIATED PRESS • December 19, 2020
President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday rolled out an environmental team that he hopes will steer America toward greater action to curb climate change and protect the nation’s air and water. Biden compared the climate threat to the calamity of the coronavirus pandemic and he pledged to take action. New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland would be the first Native American to lead the Interior Department. Michael Regan would be the first African American man to run the Environmental Protection Agency. Brenda Mallory would be the first African American to oversee the Council on Environmental Quality. Gina McCarthy will serve as national climate adviser, and Ali Zaidi will serve as her deputy.