Trump’s Climate U-Turn: From Advocacy to Opposition
In a surprising twist of fate, the U.S. climate policy has taken an unexpected turn under President Donald Trump. A decade ago, he was among business leaders advocating for climate action, but today, his administration has become a staunch opponent of clean energy initiatives, prioritizing fossil fuels and challenging global efforts to combat climate change.
Back in 2009, Donald Trump, then a prominent real estate developer and television personality, endorsed a call for action on climate change. He joined other business leaders in a New York Times advertisement urging the U.S. to lead in clean energy to prevent “catastrophic and irreversible consequences for humanity and our planet.”
Fast forward to the present, and Trump’s administration has adopted a vastly different stance. Despite the booming clean energy sector, which now commands double the global investment of fossil fuels, Trump has doubled down on fossil fuel advocacy. His administration has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, expanded drilling rights, and dismantled environmental protections.
Next month’s UN climate talks in Brazil will likely highlight the absence of U.S. leadership in climate discussions, as the State Department’s climate office has been abolished. It remains uncertain who, if anyone, will represent the U.S. at these talks.
Trump’s energy policies have gone beyond mere support for fossil fuels. He has halted offshore wind projects, banned renewable energy initiatives on federal land, and eliminated subsidies for green energy solutions, favoring coal instead. These moves have raised concerns among climate experts and former officials, including Kim Carnahan, the chief climate negotiator during Trump’s first term, who noted, “There’s a focus on dismantling rather than building.”
The president’s actions extend beyond U.S. borders, as he has criticized the UK for its wind energy projects and pressured the European Union to import $750 billion worth of U.S. oil and gas over three years. Trump’s skepticism towards green energy is evident in his UN speech, where he warned, “Countries are on the brink of destruction because of the green energy agenda.”
The administration’s climate rhetoric has shifted as well, labeling wind energy as “ugly” and “disgusting,” while referring to the climate crisis as a “hoax.” In contrast, fossil fuels have been rebranded, with Trump instructing the use of terms like “clean, beautiful coal.”
Despite these changes, the impact of climate change persists, with increasing floods, fires, and insurance challenges across the U.S. The push for clean energy remains essential, and experts like Abraham Silverman from Johns Hopkins University question Trump’s strategy: “It’s puzzling and very strange to say wind and solar have no role in the American system when these are often the quickest and cheapest sources.”
The geopolitical dimension of Trump’s policies is also significant, as it pits the U.S. against China in a competition between fossil fuels and clean energy. Former climate adviser Gina McCarthy believes American cities and states committed to climate action can help fill the void left by federal policy changes.
While Trump’s policy changes have slowed the adoption of clean energy domestically, the global shift towards renewable energy continues. As Kim Carnahan remarked, “The problem is still there, and the realities of its impacts will just become more and more clear over time.”
Original Story at www.theguardian.com