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Biden signs 'existential' executive orders on environment

They include a new ban on some energy drilling.

President Biden's orders aim to freeze new oil and gas leases on public lands and double offshore wind-produced energy by 2030. They are expected to meet stiff resistance from the energy industry and come as a sea change from Donald Trump, who cut environmental protections.

The International Olympic Committee say they are "fully concentrated and committed to the successful and safe delivery" of the Games. However, as we know, nothing is certain when it comes to a pandemic, and much of Japan is still under a state of emergency. We explore what the options might be with Andrew Zimbalist, a professor of economics at Smith College and the author of Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup.

Also in the programme, the challenges of running Africa's oldest national park, Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the face of attacks from militia groups, and plans by an energy company to drill for oil.

(Picture: President Joe Biden/Getty Images)

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27 minutes

Last on

Wed 27 Jan 2021 22:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Wed 27 Jan 2021 22:32GMT