Biden to Designate Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments in California
New York TimesJan 08
Biden Establishes New California National Monuments
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Above: US Pres. Joe Biden on Dec.16, 2024 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres. Joe Biden on Tuesday established two new national monuments in California, less than a week before his presidency ends. The move came a week after his original plan to establish them was delayed due to the Los Angeles wildfires.
Biden established the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument with the goal of protecting their 848K acres of land from drilling, mining, solar energy farms, and other industrial activity.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Biden has cemented a groundbreaking climate legacy through bold action and historic conservation milestones. This designation preserves culturally significant and biodiverse lands — balancing recreation, Indigenous heritage, and environmental protection. These efforts build on his sweeping climate achievements, including his committing the US to cutting emissions by up to 52% by 2030.
Establishment-critical narrative
Biden’s climate legacy is riddled with broken promises and contradictions. His green energy push fuels dependency on Chinese coal-powered manufacturing, while domestic oil drilling has expanded, and the US continues to rely too much on polluting industries. Biden has provided a pattern of symbolic gestures over substantive change.
Narrative C
Biden is frantically trying to secure his climate legacy, but it's unlikely that any of his recent actions will have a lasting impact on the planet. The incoming Trump administration will more than likely reverse most of Biden's declarations, leaving the climate as vulnerable to destruction as Biden's reputation is to being soiled.
