2024 has officially become the hottest year on record. Not only has it surpassed 2023, but it has also crossed the key limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius set by the Paris Climate Agreement. This alarming change in temperature is evident everywhere we look—on the news, in our communities, and even right outside our windows.
The realities of climate change are urgent. Bad weather events like super storms and wildfires are increasing in intensity and frequency, affecting everyone. At this crucial moment, it’s critical to support climate science and leadership. Yet, the incoming administration under President Donald Trump is making choices that could hinder these efforts.
Key appointments are raising concerns. For example, Lee Zeldin, who has close ties to the fossil fuel industry, is set to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Chris Wright, another oil executive, is nominated to run the Department of Energy. These decisions are troubling for families and communities across the nation.
One particularly alarming appointment is Russell Vought, chosen to head the Office of Management and Budget. Vought has been involved in a controversial initiative called Project 2025, which aims to weaken the structures of democracy and public accountability in government. This position gives him significant power over government policies, including those related to climate change.
Vought has openly expressed a wish to target civil servants working on public health and climate issues. He even stated that he wants these employees to feel discouraged at work and suggested cutting their funding to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing regulations against fossil fuels. His comments reflect a dangerous agenda focused on undermining efforts to combat climate change.
Project 2025 goes further, critiquing essential climate initiatives as “social engineering” and suggesting the need for more White House control over crucial reports like the National Climate Assessment. This assessment provides critical data on climate change and is vital for forming effective policies. By attempting to reshape this report and control who gets to work on it, Vought aims to diminish its credibility and impact.
Experts warn that this strategy could severely harm progress toward clean energy and public health. Climate scientist Michael Mann emphasized that the new administration’s objective seems to be to thwart any attempts to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources.
Supporting a swift shift to clean energy is not only vital for addressing climate change, but it’s also crucial for the health and economic stability of communities across the country. Undermining the scientific basis for climate action represents a crisis of its own.
While campaigning, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025, claiming ignorance about it. However, his recent nominations reveal that he plans to implement many projects connected to this agenda, threatening vital scientific agencies like the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, which plays a significant role in climate research and warnings about severe weather events.
As we approach important elections and decisions, the implications of these appointments are significant. They not only threaten scientific and environmental progress but also undermine the principles of democracy itself. Many believe that rejecting these nominations is essential for protecting not just our climate, but the foundational values of our government.
Ben Jealous is the executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
