Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week - Federal CSO Fireside

November 12, 2024

undefined mins

Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Andrew Mayock, presented a fireside chat at Climate Week NYC

During his fireside chat at Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC, Andrew Mayock, the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, outlined the ambitious sustainability initiatives and strategies undertaken by the federal government — from transitioning to clean energy to reducing its carbon footprint.

Appointed by President Biden, Andrew leads the US Government's efforts to address climate change through actionable policies, focusing on the goals laid out in Biden’s federal sustainability plan.

Andrew Mayock, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at the White House Council On Environmental Quality

Leading by example: A national roadmap to net zero

Beginning his talk, Andrew reflects on the climate action milestones the Biden administration has reached since taking office.

From rejoining the Paris Agreement to passing landmark legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the administration has not only reinforced climate commitments but also laid the groundwork for major private sector investments, job creation and economic growth.

Reviewing these changes, Andrew states how it has all resulted in “real impacts”, such as creating “US$900bn worth of private sector investment” and “over 300,000 jobs”.

Andrew details how the federal government itself, as the nation’s largest single-building owner, energy consumer and vehicle fleet operator, is a critical player in Biden’s climate strategy.

“President Biden charged us to get to 100% clean energy no later than 2030,” Andrew says, highlighting the commitment of the administration to achieve significant climate goals.

Turning policy into progress: Federal clean energy initiatives

Under Andrew’s leadership, the federal government has made measurable progress in its sustainability initiatives.

When President Biden took office, the government had “less than 2,000 zero-emission vehicles in the fleet” and now has 80,000 vehicles.

The same impressive growth occurred with charging points, with the number rising from “less than 1,000” in 2021 to “30,000 in process and counting” now.

Andrew emphasises that these figures represent substantial strides toward Biden’s climate commitments and highlight the scale of transformation required across public sector operations.

Andrew credits the Biden administration’s collaborations with private sector sustainability teams from companies like Microsoft and GM as instrumental in moving federal sustainability forward.

Andrew Mayock, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer at the White House Council On Environmental Quality

Drawing on the expertise of these companies, which are also working toward ambitious climate targets, the administration has crafted strategies for enterprise-wide clean energy procurement, advanced vehicle electrification and more.

These partnerships reflect a broader strategy to promote clean energy across the US, with the federal government joining other major energy consumers in organising collective buying power to negotiate better access to clean electricity.

According to Andrew, this approach is key to accelerating the adoption of renewables and strengthening the clean energy market.

Embedding sustainability throughout the federal workforce

As the country’s largest employer, the federal government faces unique challenges in embedding sustainability across its workforce.

Andrew highlighted the importance of aligning agency leadership with climate goals, crediting President Biden’s support as essential in setting the tone across departments.

He explains how Biden’s commitment to sustainability was clear.

“President Biden coming into office and having climate as one of his top three priorities sent a very clear signal to his immediate reports in the cabinet and everyone throughout the government that it was time to deliver on this front,” he says.

Andrew Mayock at Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC

From policy to action: Reflections on Climate Week and beyond

Reflecting on his experience at New York Climate Week, Andrew notes how the climate landscape has evolved since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Andrew explains with optimism how the focus has moved from developing policy to the importance of implementation.

“It’s moved from talking about climate to, doing the necessary work and seeking to accelerate it at this necessary time,” he says.

With a renewed focus on execution, the federal sustainability agenda exemplifies how government leadership can drive systemic change in the climate space.

Andrew’s discussion at Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC provids insights into the Biden administration’s strategy for translating ambitious climate policies into actionable progress.

As he puts it, the aim is not only to “lead by example” but to serve as a blueprint for the private sector, as the federal governments' journey to net zero underscores the role of cross-sector collaboration in tackling the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.