The world still reflects the consequences of the hectic days surrounding the United States elections. In this context, it is crucial to consider the environmental impact of Donald Trump’s triumph.
The tycoon returns to the White House, bringing with him policies that stand out for their marked climate change denial.
Moreover, in this new term, he promises to deepen the decisions that characterized his previous period, when, among other actions, he withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement. Something that, in practice, lasted several months.
However, it was enough to alter the global focus on environmental commitments.
The environmental impact of Trump’s victory: denialism
The denial of human-caused climate change is one of the emblems that characterized Trump’s thoughts during his first term and is far from changing now.
Trump and his team argue that it is not caused by human activity but by natural cycles, dismissing the research of the IPCC and the global scientific consensus on the environmental crisis.
Another issue to consider is that, during his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement. This return to the White House represents a challenge for climate diplomacy, as the country could once again ignore commitments to reduce carbon footprint, jeopardizing collective efforts.
Trump’s Triumph: 5 key points on the climate issue
1. Promotion of Oil Exploitation
With the campaign slogan “drill, baby, drill,” Trump aims to boost the oil industry, one of the most polluting. This reaffirms an energy policy that prioritizes fossil fuels, moving away from perspectives for renewable energies.
2. Halt to the energy transition
In the same line, the lack of incentives for renewable energies by the world’s second-largest CO2 emitter represents a serious setback in emission reduction goals, impacting international agreements and limiting progress towards a clean energy matrix.
3. Increase in GHG emissions
According to Carbon Brief, Trump’s policies could increase CO2 emissions by 4000 million metric tons by 2030, a significant global impact on the fight against warming.
4. Elimination of Funds for Climate Compensation
Trump has already announced his intention to eliminate the compensation funds promoted during Joe Biden’s term. These funds were crucial for the mitigation and adaptation of vulnerable communities to the effects of climate change.
5. EPA Flexibility
Trump also promised to minimize the influence of the Environmental Protection Agency EPA, the agency responsible for enforcing environmental regulations, thus weakening one of the main pillars in the defense of the environment in the United States.
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