Donald Trump's election could lead to a major reversal of current U.S. climate policies, according to his statements on environmental regulations.
Lisa Friedman reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Trump plans to dismantle Biden's climate initiatives, including regulations on power plants and automobile emissions.
- His past presidency saw over 100 environmental protections revoked, signaling a similar approach if reelected.
- Climate advocates fear a second Trump term could severely hinder efforts to combat global warming due to a narrowing window for action.
Key quote:
"It would become an all-out assault on any possible progress on climate change."
— Pete Maysmith, senior vice president of campaigns at the League of Conservation Voters
Why this matters:
The prospect of former President Trump reclaiming the White House has climate advocates bracing for potential setbacks. Trump's earlier tenure was marked by an unabashed rollback of environmental regulations, an embrace of fossil fuels, and a withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, casting a long shadow on the strides made in global climate policy. If elected again, experts worry it could signal a detour from the aggressive climate action many argue is needed to stave off the worst impacts of climate change.
In 2016, Peter Dykstra wrote about Donald Trump’s messy divorce from environmental reality.
