There has been a lot of concern about the Trump administration's stance on climate change. The administration's policies, from pulling back environmental rules to withdrawing from international climate agreements. This has had broad repercussions for climate action in the United States and beyond. Using information from a few articles, this blog post examines the major steps the Trump administration has done to address or undermine the risks associated with climate change.
Deregulation and Its Consequences
Deregulation was one of the Trump administration's main tactics. The administration sought to lessen numerous environmental protections and other laws that it deemed to be onerous for companies. As stated in the article "Trump's Plans to Deregulate Threaten Public Health, Climate Stability," the administration repealed a number of laws intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard public health. Among these rollbacks were easing automobile fuel efficiency regulations and undermining the Clean Power Plan, which sought to lower carbon emissions from power plants.
There were serious repercussions from these deregulations. The administration's actions boosted greenhouse gas emissions, which worsen climate change, by permitting higher emissions from automobiles and power plants. Public health was also at risk from the repeal of laws intended to safeguard the quality of the air and water, especially in areas where issues with the environment were already a concern.
Setbacks and Opportunities for Climate Action
Despite the negative effects of deregulation, the Trump administration also offered chances to address climate change. Despite federal rollbacks, the article "Climate Action Opportunities and Setbacks Under Trump" emphasizes how resilient state and local governments and private sector initiatives are in pushing climate action. Numerous states, including California and New York, have persisted in enacting aggressive climate policies, such investing in clean energy technologies and establishing goals for renewable energy.
Furthermore, the private sector was essential in propelling climate action. Businesses from a variety of industries committed to investing in renewable energy, adopt sustainable practices, and lessen their carbon footprints. These initiatives showed that, in spite of government resistance, subnational climate action could go forward and even flourish.
International Climate Agreements and Global Implications
The Trump administration's decision to leave the Paris Agreement—an international agreement designed to keep the rise in global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels—was one of its most controversial moves. The possible effects of this choice on international climate initiatives are covered in the article "How Trump’s Second Term Will Affect Climate and Environment". The departure raised questions about the United States' commitment to tackling the global climate catastrophe and signified a retreat from international collaboration on climate change.
There were multiple implications to the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. It damaged nations' collaborative efforts to tackle climate change and may have reduced other countries' commitment to meet their climate pledges. It also caused uncertainty for investors and companies trying to support global climate targets, which could slow the shift to a low-carbon economy. look at this graph
Conclusion
A widespread mistrust of climate science, substantial deregulation, and withdrawal from international agreements were the trademarks of the Trump administration's climate change strategy. Despite the difficulties these acts presented for climate action, they also demonstrated the drive and determination of state and municipal governments, as well as the corporate sector, to keep pushing climate projects forward. We must take what we've learned from this time and reinforce our dedication to tackling climate change risks with strong legislation, global collaboration, and creative solutions.
The Trump administration’s approach to climate change, characterized by deregulation and withdrawal from international agreements, had significant consequences for both the U.S. and global climate action. Policies like rolling back the Clean Power Plan and easing fuel efficiency standards increased greenhouse gas emissions and posed risks to public health. However, state governments and private sector initiatives continued to advance climate action, showing resilience in the face of federal rollbacks. Do you think these local and corporate efforts can fully offset the damage caused by such deregulatory policies?
ReplyDeleteVery important topic here, especially today with the active effects of climate change we have been witnessing. I believe that deregulation is a very issue and has a very detrimental effects on the US. As you previously stated, higher greenhouse gas emissions, worsening climate change.
ReplyDeleteI have been dreading the day that Trump takes office as part of this main reason. He is unable to handle the environmental state of the planet we are currently in and he does not have the skills or integrity to get our planet where we need to be to reverse the effects of climate change and global warming on this planet.
ReplyDeleteReading this on the day that Trump is sworn in as Presidency has me scared. I for one am not looking forward to how he brings about chaos to the United States. If he follows through on this plans of dominating nature and the environment for the next four years we might as well hang up our hats now. It is hard to have faith when someone like this is becoming so powerful over such a beautiful nation and also has terrible intentions. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe decisions Trump makes even at the potential impact of his own health and safety continues to be astonishing. Pollutants and greenhouse gases can only be a net negative to each individual, each country, and especially the world at large. Even if Trump is looking at each issue from the perspective of a business man, he certainly is forgetting that people can't participate in the economy if they are dead. I like how you touched on some of the positives of the private sector making big choices to invest in renewable energy. Even a few businesses making that change will start a hopeful trend for the future.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to look forward to the future and see what's going to happen with the new administration. I know the Paris Agreement is something good about trying to keep one another responsible for whats going on, because we are all in it together. Hoping that the government will come to it's senses to bring good and impactful environmental change.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia being mentioned as on of the states to enact environmentally friendly plans intrigued me. I recently did a research project on the healthiest states in the country and California was listed as number 1. I wonder if their consideration for health and the environment coincide?
ReplyDeleteI am consistently baffled by the Trump administration's blatant disregard of our planet. I appreciate the discussion of how both local and state governments are taking the initiative of action within themselves.
ReplyDeleteThank you for providing the data visualization for the top 10 emitters. I have never seen that before. It was fascinating to see how fast China has become number one in GHG emissions and how much longer the U.S. has been releasing high amounts of emissions in comparison to the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteI watched the inauguration and it was shocking to see how many changes will be made on the environmental scope. Pulling from the Paris agreement, cutting the environmental budget, new representation that will vote against climate regulation. We will see how this goes.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like we are moving in the wrong direction with the election of Trump. We are already fighting a uphill battle with climate change and this is only making it worst. Also promoting distrust to the scientific community is also having a huge effect and holding of back.
ReplyDeleteHey Cooper,
ReplyDeleteI found the articles/graphics you linked to be really interesting. I noticed that in the top 10 emitters from 1850 to 2016 the U.S. and China were ranked the top 2 yet in the other graphic you included about different countries net-zero plants both China and the U.S. were still at "net-zero targets in policy documentation" rather than "net-zero target in law". This is especially frustrating because I firmly believe that the people who are causing the most damage have a greater responsibility to fix it.
It continues to become more and more discouraging to learn of Trump's several attempts to undermine climate policy actions. In the time that we need it most, it is frustrating to have someone in office to continues to take a backward approach in achieving climate stability. The resilience of local and state governments to push the importance of these climate actions do raise hope to enact climate regenerative policies during his term, I just hope its enough.
ReplyDeleteThe Trump administration seems to be incredibly misinformed about what is actually happening to our world. The only reason to go back on these regulations is money and the people that are in Trump's pockets. The United States already emits so much into the atmosphere; to take away the regulations seems disastrous for all of us.
ReplyDeleteWow. I do not understand Trump's climate policies. The rollback of the Clean Power Plan is deeply concerning. There is so many repercussions for both emissions and public health. On the more positive side, it is so inspiring to see how states, local governments, and the private sector has stepped up in the face of federal inaction. California and New York's clean energy initiatives is what climate action should be about.
ReplyDeleteI said it in another article and I'll say it again even if you like or dislike Trump 1 thing is clear the trump administration is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to fixing or addressing climate change
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, Cooper! It really breaks down the impacts of the Trump administration’s climate policies. I’m still a bit confused about how state and local actions can fully offset federal rollbacks, and how the private sector’s efforts are measured in terms of actual climate impact. Also, what’s the long-term global effect of the U.S. leaving the Paris Agreement? Thanks for such a detailed post!
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post with a lot of great information. I purposefully avoid politics and have no idea of who does what or why. This surprised me. It's hard to imagine Trump and his team pulling out of the Paris agreement and are ignoring the very clear signs of what's happening.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that leaving the Paris Agreement is something that would even be considered. It is terrifying to think that the choice between good and poor response to the climate crisis is at the whims of the people who typically are least affected by climate change.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post was super informative about Trump's policies and gave me a better understanding of what is to come. Seeing all of the changes he is already making the first week in office has me and many other Americans terrified for the wellbeing of our planet.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really gets me about the deregulation is that it took so long, decades and more, to fight for and develop the regulations, to put them through the whole administrative process, and to figure out how to enforce them. This undoes so much good work with such horrible consequences.
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