On his first day in office, President Donald Trump quickly made waves with several executive actions aimed at boosting oil and gas production. He also moved to weaken environmental protections and withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
Trump has previously dismissed climate change as a “hoax.” He filled key Cabinet positions with figures from the fossil fuel industry and climate skeptics. His actions on that first day indicated a dramatic shift in the nation’s climate policy, signaling how his presidency would prioritize energy and environmental issues moving forward.
One of Trump’s most notable actions was declaring an “energy emergency.” He argued this would help tackle inflation and lower living costs, pledging to use all resources to develop critical infrastructure. This declaration could potentially give his administration greater power to expand fossil fuel production.
Trump signed executive orders to promote energy exploration on federal lands and waters, and to expedite leasing and permitting processes in Alaska, including areas within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
During his inaugural address, Trump expressed a clear intent: “We will have the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it.” He declared that the U.S. would increase its energy exports worldwide.
The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which can hold 714 million barrels of oil, currently contains around 395 million barrels. Trump mentioned plans to fill it back up and emphasized the importance of domestic fossil fuels for economic prosperity.
Experts have questioned whether increasing fossil fuel production will lead to lower prices. Richard Klein from the Stockholm Environment Institute pointed out that oil and gas production reached record levels during the previous administration without significantly lowering costs. Dan Kammen, an energy professor at UC Berkeley, argued that simply increasing fossil fuel extraction wouldn’t help with inflation, advocating instead for a shift toward clean energy investments.
Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
Trump followed through on his promise to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, a global pact aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. He regarded the agreement as a “rip-off” and signed an executive order formalizing the departure. The U.S. will take a year to fully exit, meaning American negotiators will still participate in upcoming climate talks.
Critics have warned that leaving the agreement could undermine U.S. influence in international climate discussions. According to a recent poll, a majority of Americans support remaining part of the Paris agreement.
This announcement coincided with reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declaring that 2024 was the hottest year on record, marked by extreme weather events globally. Climate scientists continue to stress the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate further worsening conditions.
Changes to Vehicle Mandates
Trump also revoked what he called the “electric vehicle mandate.” He claimed this move supported consumer choice, although no national mandate requiring electric vehicle sales existed. The Biden administration had previously aimed for increased electric vehicle adoption through stricter pollution mandates and incentives for consumers.
Experts like Costa Samaras from Carnegie Mellon University warned that reducing incentives for electric vehicles could hinder job growth and elevate travel costs. They noted that electric vehicles typically cost significantly less to operate compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars, highlighting the potential benefits of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
Impact on Environmental Justice
In a significant move, Trump signed an order that repealed nearly 80 initiatives from the Biden administration, including those aimed at promoting environmental justice. This shift signals a reduction in focus on addressing the needs of communities disproportionately affected by pollution.
Additionally, Trump placed a temporary ban on new offshore wind leases and initiated a review of wind project permits, indicating a commitment to limiting renewable energy projects, even amid the backing they receive from many within the Republican party.
Despite the federal government’s stance, many state and local leaders are committed to climate action, emphasizing the need for continued progress on environmental issues regardless of national policy changes.
Check out this related article: “Unpacking Trump’s Emergency Powers: What They Mean for Energy Policy and the Future of Sustainability” – Environment+Energy Leader
Source linkClimate,Donald Trump,Politics,Trump Administration
