In his State of the Union address, Obama said he would take executive actions “to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy” if Congress didn’t act.

Earlier this month Obama nominated Gina McCarthy, currently the assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, for the top post at the agency. McCarthy’s supporters say her nomination as EPA administrator is another indication that President Obama is serious about prioritizing climate change.