Trump 2.0: What Reelection Means for the Climate Crisis
A Climate of Uncertainty: Trump's Reelection and the Future of Climate Change and Environmental Protection
The reelection of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States has sent shockwaves throughout the global community, particularly in the realm of environmental protection. Trump's well-documented skepticism about climate change and his administration's policies have consistently loosened limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and vehicles, and weakened energy efficiency standards
The Trump Effect on US Emissions
Under Trump's leadership, US greenhouse gas emissions are projected to fall to 28% below 2005 levels by 2030, far short of the 50-52% target pledged by the Biden administration. This gap is equivalent to 4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) by 2030, causing global climate damages worth over $900 billion.
Rollback of Environmental Regulations
Trump's administration has already reversed many environmental regulations, including 28 on air pollution and emissions and eight on water pollution. The rollback of the Clean Power Plan, which aimed to reduce emissions from power plants, is a stark example of this trend. Additionally, Trump's pledge to "drill, baby, drill" would likely raise US and global emissions further through increased extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal.
Global Climate Implications
The US is the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and Trump's policies would undermine global efforts to limit global warming. The Paris Agreement, which aims to keep warming below 1.5°C, relies on international cooperation. Trump's withdrawal from the agreement would create uncertainty for other countries and jeopardize the achievement of this goal.
Stakes for Environmental Protection
The stakes for environmental protection are high with Trump's reelection. Weakened environmental regulations would increase air and water pollution, threatening public health. Climate change and environmental degradation would harm ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources.
Trump's reelection poses significant risks to global climate change and environmental protection efforts. His policies would undermine progress made, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and threaten public health and ecosystems. As the world looks on, it remains to be seen how Trump's administration will address the pressing issue of climate change.
Our mission at Ecosystems Awareness Fund (EAFund) is to research, explore and disseminate information on human activities and initiatives aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing environmental quality towards good environmental integrity, human cultural and economic viability.