Photo courtesy of Wikipedia, edited by Sarah M. ‘27.

How Trump’s Victory Will Affect America’s Climate Policies

By: Eileen W. ‘27

At this current moment (at the time I am writing this article), the climate clock reads 4 years and 248 days. This is the countdown to the day when climate change will become irreversible—and unlike a typical doomsday clock, the disaster this one heralds is not fictional. This climate clock is displayed in major cities such as New York, Seoul, and Rome, reminding people of this ever-present threat. But what is being done about it?


At the 2023 international climate conference, also called COP28, the 200 attending countries made a collective pledge to “double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from around 2% to over 4% every year until 2030,” according to UAE Consensus. During the climate conference, countries restated their commitment to the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change signed in 2016.


In particular, the White House, under President Biden, set a goal to reduce “U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030.” Moreover, he aimed to reach “100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035,” and achieve “a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.” Congress has also taken action, passing bills such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in order to combat climate change.


However, this progress toward the goals set in previous international climate conferences may change under president-elect Trump’s administration. Trump has long been known as a critic of climate change, labeling it a “scam.” He has also called Biden’s climate plan, and the Inflation Reduction Act especially, a “waste of money.” After taking the presidency, Trump has pledged to “rescind all unspent funds” from the act, which has provided over $390 billion to the clean energy sector, according to Politico.


The possible negative repercussions of Trump’s victory on the climate are further reinforced by the actions during his previous term. An analysis by the Washington Post found that Trump “weakened or wiped out” over 125 rules and policies aimed at combating climate change, and worked to do so for 40  more, by the end of his first term in 2020. Trump, during his first term, also drew out of the Paris Agreement, and will most likely do so again during his second term.


These new policies, along with Trump’s nomination for Secretary of the Department of the Interior, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, may provide the basis for Trump to “cut energy and electricity costs by 50%,” according to the New York Post. “We’re going to do things with energy and with land … that are going to be incredible,” Trump said to an audience at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort.


Trump has summarized his climate policies as “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his promise to repeal restrictions on oil drilling, which is widely seen as harmful to the environment. Although Trump is evidently unwilling to take action against climate change, states and individuals are still working toward combating this issue. The World Resources Institute reports that the 24 states and territories that comprise the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance, including Maryland, have promised to achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. Together, these 24 states represent 54% of the U.S. population and 57% of the U.S. economy.


Helene, Milton, and seven other hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin demonstrate the devastating effects of climate change. The hurricanes have a combined death toll of over 300 lives, according to USA Today. CNN also reports that over $9 billion has been spent by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.


It remains to be seen if the United States, and the rest of the world, can reach the promised net-zero emissions before the timer of the climate clock ticks down to zero, especially with Donald Trump assuming the presidential seat on January 20, 2025.


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