by Ziv Golan ‘26 and Deepika Shrestha ‘27

With the reelection of Donald Trump, there are questions of whether his administration will address or dismiss the issue of climate change in his second term. Trump expressed interest in once again pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, an international agreement adopted by 196 countries with members aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt renewable energy goals. Trump originally pulled out of the agreement in 2016, and the action was reversed as soon as President Biden took office in 2021. But with many countries already struggling to reach these goals, a second U.S. exit from the agreement could spell out severe consequences for the rest of the world. Biden recently has urged other world leaders to continue fighting for climate change, showing his concern that the United States under Trump will no longer take action on the issue.

Trump also wants to repeal almost all of Biden’s policies in regards to addressing the climate crisis. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 in part deals with conservation of land, endangered wildlife, and adding additional national park staff. Trump wants to increase oil and gas production and cut Biden’s restrictions on virtually all regulations because he argues that it will increase U.S. wealth and prosperity. This rollback includes a step away from Biden’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030. Tax credits for electric vehicles along with the clean energy jobs introduced with the Inflation Reduction Act are also on the chopping block. Trump is hoping to bring down energy and gas prices in the country by doing so. He also wants to get rid of offshore wind power, and has shown a strong dislike of renewable energy windmills.

2024 is already on track to be the hottest year on record with world leaders highlighting the need for comprehensive policy to combat the climate crisis. With Trump taking office many of these leaders are worried that the United States may no longer be a dependent partner on the issue. Climate scientists are warning there are four more years left until climate change is irreversible and actions need to be taken now to curb the threat. Recent extreme weather events like hurricanes Milton and Helene, flooding in Valencia Spain, and tornadoes across the U.S. South, all are examples of the worsening climate crisis in the United States and around the world. Experts are warning that these weather events will only worsen in coming years and with Trump at the helm many world leaders feel that little will be done with the leader of the free world failing to acknowledge the threat climate change poses.