Cecily Zamora
President Trump has been vocal about his intention to roll back clean energy policies and reverse US climate policy. Trump's administration has been particularly focused on dismantling actions intended to deal with climate change, including cutting extreme weather preparedness funding, freezing investments, and blocking pollution protections. Trump has also withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, a global agreement among 195 nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and has targeted state climate laws, calling them burdensome and ideologically motivated. Trump's actions have accelerated the climate crisis, endangered communities' health, driven up costs, and undermined economic growth. While some of Trump's actions may be challenged in court, his administration's focus on deregulating the fossil fuel industry and weakening environmental protections has had a devastating impact on the climate, economy, health, and well-being of Americans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate change laws Trump can repeal | State climate laws, laws that keep polluters from ignoring environmental laws, laws protecting clean air and water, laws protecting ecologically sensitive lands, laws protecting endangered species, laws incentivizing electric vehicles, laws limiting methane emissions, laws strengthening fuel economy standards, laws prohibiting fossil fuel development on public lands, laws protecting sensitive lands, laws addressing climate change |
| Climate change laws Trump cannot repeal | Biden administration’s massive investments in clean energy, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act |
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What You'll Learn
Trump can repeal US involvement in the Paris Agreement
In June 2017, Trump announced his intention to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, stating that it was unfair to the US and would cost the country trillions in lost GDP and millions of jobs. He also claimed that it would "undermine our economy [and] hamstring our workers," and that it would "effectively decapitate our coal industry." Trump's decision was influenced by letters from Republican Senators and members of the European Parliament urging him to withdraw, as well as his own beliefs that global warming was created by China to impair American competitiveness.
Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement means that the federal government will not be bound by emissions reduction goals or financial commitments to the UNFCCC. It also sends a message to other countries that the US is prioritizing its economic interests over global cooperation on climate change. However, it's important to note that Trump's efforts to unravel climate change initiatives and ramp up domestic oil and gas production are likely to be challenged in court.
Trump's repeal of US involvement in the Paris Agreement is part of a broader initiative to "Make America affordable and energy dominant again." This includes targeting state climate laws and dismantling regulations across the federal government, such as protections for ecologically sensitive lands and incentives for electric vehicles. Trump has also moved to rescind the Council on Environmental Quality's role in crafting and implementing environmental regulations and cut funding for climate research and assessment programs.
The impact of Trump's repeal of the Paris Agreement is likely to be felt around the world, as the US is the largest producer of oil and one of the greatest emitters of carbon dioxide. While Trump has not announced a withdrawal from the underlying UNFCCC treaty, his executive order specifically addresses financial commitments under the convention, stating that the US shall "immediately cease or revoke any purported financial commitment."
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He can cut funding for climate change initiatives
Trump has a history of cutting funding for climate change initiatives. During his first term in office, he withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, a global cooperation aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions. This meant the federal government would no longer strive to meet emissions reduction goals or financial commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Trump also targeted funding for renewable energy and electric vehicle initiatives. He proposed slashing billions of dollars in federal funding for projects, including renewable energy and electric vehicle chargers. This included a $6 billion cut from the bipartisan infrastructure law for EV chargers. Additionally, Trump eliminated funding for the Clean Power Plan and other international climate change programs, as well as reducing funding for agencies engaged in climate change research and regulation.
Trump's administration also cut funding for specific organizations conducting climate research, such as Princeton University, where $4 million in climate research funding was withdrawn. The US Commerce Department stated that the university's collaboration with NOAA promoted "exaggerated and implausible climate threats," contributing to "climate anxiety" among American youth.
Trump also ended programs like the American Climate Corps, which created thousands of jobs focused on combating climate change and protecting public lands. He also withdrew wind energy leasing from US waters and federal lands and halted $7 billion in grants for the "Solar For All" program, which provided clean energy and lower prices to vulnerable communities.
Trump's actions have faced criticism for endangering communities, driving up costs, and undermining economic growth. His focus on increasing oil and gas production and removing incentives for electric vehicles has been met with concern by experts, who worry about the planet's rising temperatures and the impact on extreme weather events.
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Trump can roll back clean energy policies
During his first term as President, Donald Trump took several steps to roll back clean energy policies. He withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, a global cooperation on climate change, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty that serves as the foundation for international climate talks. Trump also targeted state climate laws, signing an executive order to stop the enforcement of laws related to climate change, environmental justice, and climate pollution.
Trump's administration moved to rescind the Council on Environmental Quality's role in crafting and implementing environmental regulations, revoking orders that shape how federal agencies comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. This includes the elimination of guidance for considering climate pollution and environmental justice in the environmental review process. Additionally, Trump's Interior Secretary announced plans to repeal protections on ecologically sensitive lands in Alaska, opening up millions of acres for oil and gas drilling.
Trump has also obstructed the rollout of the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides tax credits, grants, and incentives for clean energy, electric vehicles, and low-carbon technologies. He has threatened to hold California wildfire aid hostage unless the state changed its water management policy to benefit his golf course. Furthermore, Trump's administration ended programs that created jobs combating climate change and protecting public lands, such as the American Climate Corps.
While Trump may face challenges in repealing certain laws, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, due to their interconnection with infrastructure and manufacturing investments, his administration's actions have accelerated the climate crisis, endangered communities, and undermined economic growth.
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The US Climate Finance Plan will likely be scaled back
In 2021, President Biden committed to increasing US international climate finance to over $11 billion per year by 2024. Of this, $3 billion per year was committed to investments in adaptation to help vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis. This funding would also help to protect Americans and people worldwide against the physical, economic, and security threats of climate change.
However, under President Trump, these efforts are likely to be scaled back. Trump has a history of unraveling climate change policies, including withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement and removing incentives for electric vehicles. He has also targeted state climate laws, calling them "burdensome and ideologically motivated."
Trump's administration has also moved to rescind the Council on Environmental Quality's role in crafting and implementing environmental regulations and has ended programs that created thousands of jobs combating climate change and protecting public lands. In addition, the Trump administration canceled funding for the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which publishes America's National Climate Assessment.
While Trump may face challenges in rolling back some clean energy policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, he is likely to make significant changes to the US Climate Finance Plan. This includes reducing funding for international climate finance, which has already been criticized as falling short of what is needed to address the impacts of climate change.
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Trump can repeal laws protecting ecologically sensitive lands
During his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders with significant implications for the climate and environment. Trump's actions have accelerated the climate crisis, endangered communities' health, driven up costs, and undermined economic growth.
One notable aspect of Trump's agenda is his focus on repealing laws that protect ecologically sensitive lands. Interior Secretary Doug Burgham has announced plans to repeal protections on ecologically sensitive lands in Alaska, specifically targeting the Western Arctic. This decision will open up approximately 13 million acres of land for oil and gas drilling, endangering the region's wildlife and contributing to climate change. The Western Arctic's Special Areas, designated for long-term protection, provide critical habitats for numerous species and are essential for the traditional subsistence practices of local Alaska Native people.
Trump's administration has also moved to rescind the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) role in crafting and implementing environmental regulations. This includes withdrawing guidance for considering climate pollution and environmental justice in the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Additionally, they have targeted the Clean Water Act by excluding some wetlands and intermittent streams from its protections.
Trump's actions align with his support for the fossil fuel industry and his push for increased oil and gas production. He has nominated fossil fuel industry insiders to oversee energy development and land use, and his "Unleashing American Energy" executive order led to the reinstatement of fossil fuel leases and the weakening of protections for public lands and endangered species.
While Trump may face challenges in repealing certain laws, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, his administration's efforts to dismantle environmental protections and prioritize fossil fuel development are evident. The rollbacks of environmental regulations are expected to have devastating consequences for communities across the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump can repeal laws that were not passed by Congress, such as the Clean Power Plan, which established carbon dioxide emission limits for existing fossil fuel-fired power plants. He can also repeal laws that are not supported by majorities in both Houses, such as the Inflation Reduction Act.
Trump has issued several executive orders on climate change, including:
- An order to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, a global agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- An order to dismantle the Council on Environmental Quality’s role in crafting and implementing environmental regulations.
- An order to target state climate laws and policies that address climate change, environmental justice, and climate pollution.
- An order to keep open fossil fuel plants that were scheduled for closure, in an effort to prioritize electricity from fossil fuels.
Trump's policies have accelerated the climate crisis, endangered communities' health, driven up costs, and undermined economic growth. His focus on rolling back climate change policies and increasing domestic oil and gas production contributes to rising temperatures and extreme weather events.
Trump has taken several actions to rollback climate change initiatives, including:
- Ending programs that created jobs combating climate change and protecting public lands, such as the American Climate Corps.
- Halting grants for clean energy and low-income assistance programs, such as the Solar For All initiative.
- Weakening the Endangered Species Act to prioritize energy development.
- Threatening to withhold aid to California wildfire victims unless water management policies benefit his golf course.
