New Climate Czar Signals Shift to Climate Law Implementation

President Joe Biden’s new national climate adviser may not have the high profile of his predecessor, but observers say Ali Zaidi’s mix of policy and economic chops are just what the administration needs to execute its agenda.

The former White House adviser, Gina McCarthy, had a charismatic style and name-brand recognition—as a former Environmental Protection Agency administrator—needed to build political support for the infrastructure bill and climate-and-tax law known as the Inflation Reduction Act, observers said. With both bills shifting into the implementation stage, Zaidi’s technocratic skills are now critical.

“It was really important to have a very ...