The recent election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States has raised serious concerns about the future of climate action.
After four years of progress under President Joe Biden’s administration, which prioritized clean energy manufacturing and strengthened international climate commitments, Trump’s promised reversals threaten to derail momentum and shift the U.S. away from leadership in the global energy transition.
Under Biden, landmark initiatives such as the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law spurred significant investments in clean energy, creating over 300,000 jobs and drawing $150 billion in manufacturing investments, much of it in Republican-led districts.
However, Trump has vowed to repeal these measures, which he has labeled as “wasteful,” and refocus U.S. energy policy entirely on fossil fuels. These reversals will push billions of dollars in investment overseas, creating opportunities for other nations to expand their leadership in producing solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles.
Even Exxon CEO Darren Woods said the U.S. should continue to influence global climate change policy under a second Trump administration.
The Stakes for U.S. Leadership and Global Climate Action
Trump’s climate agenda represents a sharp departure from the U.S. commitments showcased at COP29, the global climate summit currently wrapping up in Azerbaijan.
The uncertainty surrounding U.S. climate policy sent ripples through COP29.
Delegates at the summit expressed concern that America’s retreat from climate leadership could embolden other nations to deprioritize their climate commitments. This swing in U.S. policy comes at a time when global cooperation is more critical than ever to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
The outgoing Biden administration is urging COP29 attendees to stay focused on long-term goals, arguing that America’s clean energy revolution has gained enough traction to withstand political challenges. However, experts warn that without federal support, the U.S. risks losing momentum, with planned manufacturing projects and export opportunities potentially moving overseas.
And it doesn’t help that President-elect Donald Trump selected Chris Wright, a climate skeptic and fossil fuel executive, to serve as his new energy secretary.
Economic and Environmental Risks
Trump also plans to dismantle key environmental policies, including clean energy subsidies and tax credits that were instrumental in driving renewable energy growth.
This rollback could disrupt domestic clean energy projects and export opportunities, ceding ground to international competitors at a time when the energy transition is accelerating worldwide.
Meanwhile, Trump’s pledge to ramp up fossil fuel production—through increased oil and gas drilling and a rollback of offshore wind projects—flies in the face of forecasts predicting peak global oil production and the growing economic appeal of renewables.
Solar and wind energy, which have become the cheapest sources of power in many regions, continue to grow rapidly, accounting for a significant portion of new energy capacity in the U.S.
The Road Ahead
While Trump’s agenda threatens to undermine climate progress, the transition to renewables is now economically and technologically inevitable. Renewables, having become the most affordable energy sources, are expected to continue growing.
However, Trump’s actions could create roadblocks, increasing costs and delaying the benefits of clean energy for American businesses and households.
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