Donald Trump has long criticized wind energy, especially after turbines were placed near his golf course in Scotland. He claimed, “I’ve studied it better than anybody I know,” and expressed his discontent in a 2019 speech, labeling windmills as noisy and harmful to birds.
In September at the UN General Assembly, Trump dismissed climate science as a “con job.” He warned global leaders of what he called a “green energy scam,” suggesting that it would lead to failure for their nations. His comments about environmentalists wanting to “kill all the cows” were met with silence from the audience.
In October, Trump’s administration pressured 100 member states of the World Maritime Organization to abandon a long-negotiated deal on taxing shipping pollution. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse criticized this as a warning sign of how the Trump administration aligned with the fossil fuel industry, pushing back against climate agreements.
Fast forward to November, a decade after the Paris Agreement—an important global climate pact—negotiations took place in Brazil without US involvement. The absence of the US weakened the discussions and allowed oil lobbyists to influence outcomes, preventing any commitment to end fossil fuel use.
In December, Trump sought to dismantle the National Centre for Atmospheric Research. Environmentalist Bill McKibben condemned the year’s actions as a significant assault on climate science, calling 2025 a potential low point for climate action.
The new year saw Trump withdrawing the US from international climate treaties, including the Paris Agreement. This was part of a broader agenda, which included plans for US oil companies to invest heavily in Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
The long-term impacts of Trump’s stance on climate science are still unclear. Countries are witnessing diminishing support for ambitious climate policies. In Australia, Trump’s rhetoric is influencing local politics, complicating efforts for pragmatic solutions, according to Matt Kean, the former NSW Liberal treasurer.
Kean noted that Trump’s language has divided opinions, making it difficult to pursue clean energy. Critics often attack subsidies for renewable energy without acknowledging the fossil fuel industry’s subsidies.
According to a recent survey, 65% of Australians recognize climate change as a significant issue, yet meaningful debate on strategies like carbon tax remains absent.
What’s at stake here isn’t just the environment; it’s also national competitiveness. While countries like China are racing ahead in green technology, the US and others risk falling behind. As the climate crisis escalates, the urgency for a unified response is clearer than ever.
For more on the global approach to climate change and recent developments, refer to the World Meteorological Organization for their latest findings.
