Although it has only been a few days since the second inauguration of President Donald Trump, he has already taken several actions to reverse the Biden administration’s climate policies and enter a new era of federal involvement. One area that has received attention has been climate and energy policy. In his inaugural address, he emphasized his slogan “drill, baby, drill” yet again, citing a need to unleash American energy.
In the first few days of his second administration, Trump has made his position on national and international agreements to address the climate crisis clear. He directed the United States to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, a global cooperation between over 190 countries aiming to prevent global temperatures from increasing over the 1.5 C tipping point above pre-industrial levels that would result in irreversible environmental consequences. The executive order signed Jan. 20 justifies this decision by claiming the agreement does not reflect American values and is not a beneficial use of taxpayer dollars. This decision displays a lack of global cooperation to address the climate crisis, which not only poses a threat to Americans but also to people across the world.
Additionally, Trump has taken other actions to limit climate protections within the U.S. He signed executive orders to increase drilling, mining and logging in Alaska and to limit offshore wind projects, a source of renewable energy. This can potentially increase non-renewable energy use and harm the habitats of animals like wolves and bears. Offshore wind farms are relatively new implementations that have raised concerns about harm to ocean life such as whales and birds, but there has been little evidence for these occurrences. Offshore wind has been a reliable and inexpensive renewable energy source, and Trump’s alleged concern about wildlife has not been reflected in his other commitments to “drill, baby, drill.”
Trump’s climate policies demonstrate a reversal in commitments to advancing environmental protections, and while many Americans are drawn to his claims that these policies will lower energy costs, there is a much greater threat to the near future.