Since taking office, President Trump has quickly acted to change many of President Biden’s climate policies. He signed executive orders to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, stopped offshore wind leases, and worked to undo programs aimed at environmental justice. He even declared a “National Energy Emergency” to boost fossil fuel production.
However, many of Biden’s climate measures won’t be easy to undo. Some regulations, like those for fuel efficiency, may take years to repeal. Others may face legal challenges that could delay the process. For instance, the Inflation Reduction Act is a massive $370 billion climate initiative that has positively impacted areas typically represented by Republicans. Scrapping it may not be politically wise for Trump.
To explore the challenges and possibilities facing Trump’s climate agenda, Mother Jones consulted Michael Gerrard, the faculty director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. He pointed out that while Trump can slow down progress, the momentum toward clean energy established under Biden is hard to reverse completely.
Overall, the battle over climate policy will likely continue, with significant legal and political hurdles ahead. The future of the U.S. climate goals may depend on these challenges and the ongoing efforts of advocates and lawmakers.
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