Biden’s Energy, Environment Post Picks Tasked with Confronting ‘Existential’ Climate Change Threat

President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Thursday unveiled his selections for the top climate and energy posts in his administration, leaving little doubt of an impending sea change in federal policy when he takes office on Jan. 20.

The nominations and appointments comprise U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM), Department of the Interior (DOI) secretary; former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Department of Energy (DOE) secretary; Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator; Brenda Mallory, chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ); former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, national climate adviser; and Ali Zaidi, deputy national climate adviser.

Several of the picks had been leaked to the press before the official announcement.

“This brilliant, tested...