The 2024 Election: A pivotal moment for environmentalism
Much was at stake as one of the most divisive and impactful elections finalized with Donald Trump taking the victory. Among the many issues the President-elect has taken a stand on, from healthcare to the economy, environmental progress made by Biden is high on Trump’s hit list. Unfortunately, there is no denying that the 2024 election is a monumental setback for Environmental advocates, but there is still hope. Here are some of the takeaways regarding the future:
Trump 2.0’s Focus on Environmental Rollbacks
Trump’s first term saw significant pushback on Environmental Policy including but not limited to the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, opening up protected lands for drilling, and dismantling the EPA. However, his next term poses an even greater threat to climate progress, as Trump now possesses the experience from his previous term to undo environmental protections more effectively. He has vowed to increase oil and gas extraction, end federal support for electric vehicles, and potentially exit the Paris Agreement again.
Project 2025 as a Blueprint for Environmental Deregulation
Project 2025 is a roadmap created by the Heritage Foundation alongside 140 former Trump staff members to restructure the entire executive branch and guide lawmaking for the next term under right-wing ideals. In terms of the environmental repercussions of this plan, goals of the outline include: Boosting oil and gas drilling, reorganizing NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and cutting clean energy programs, rolling back EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gasses by declaring CO2 as not harmful, along with ending states’ ability to enforce stricter tailpipe emissions standards. However, the most dangerous of their plans are not within the policy they create, but the ideology they put in place. According to the Center for American Progress, the policy agenda would trade a federal government rooted in institutional knowledge and leadership on climate issues with denialism and obstructionism, packing government agencies with party loyalists.
President Trump Plans to Follow Project 2025
Challenges in Repealing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
The Inflation Reduction Act makes unprecedented amounts of funding available to tackle the climate crisis. Trump hopes to dismantle it as well, but it may prove difficult to do so. The IRA is creating bipartisan support, especially in Republican districts benefiting from the investments into clean energy projects. This could create division within the party, as members may be hesitant to take the act apart due to its success. This could make the IRA a heavily contested issue similar to Medicare.
The “Green Resistance” Has Momentum and Economic Backing
Environmental leaders on all levels vow to fight against Trump’s policy, and while the United States continues to move backward, the rest of the world moves on. Dr Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, states, “The world is in a very different place to what it was when Trump was last in power. The global move to renewable energy is now happening at an unprecedented pace. Nothing the US government can do will change the simple fact that renewable energy is cheaper and more reliable than oil, gas, and coal. Fossil fuels are a thing of the past. The world is moving on.” (Science Media Centre) Domestically, the economics don’t lie either; the US clean energy sector is strong and politically supported, making it somewhat difficult for Trump to reverse momentum. Along with this, states, cities, and communities are expected to lead environmental initiatives, reducing the impact of federal rollbacks.
Breakdown of the IRA (via Inside Climate News)
State-Level Climate Wins as a Silver Lining
Although the election results scare climate advocates, there are a few results that we can turn to as wins. In Washington, an effort to roll back the state’s Climate Commitment Act was thwarted. California Approved a $10 billion bond for climate resilience. South Dakota rejected a CO2 pipeline proposal. Minnesota favored a state Supreme Court Candidate supportive of environmental protections.
So What Can We Do?
The most obvious thing we can do is make individual decisions that minimize our impact, like choosing public transportation and reducing single-use plastics. However, while individual actions are essential, they are not enough to counteract the scale of environmental rollbacks that could occur at the federal level. State governments, municipalities, and grassroots organizations are stepping up to fill the gap left by federal inaction. So, get involved with or support initiatives promoting clean energy, climate adaptation, and environmental justice. Greenbelt Alliance, our partner organization for the Fall, is a fantastic organization to support. They are a nonprofit based in San Francisco focused on promoting resilience and nurturing communities throughout the Bay Area. By supporting organizations like these and making environmentally conscious choices as individuals, we can create massive change despite these new obstacles. Although times are tough for environmentalism, we can’t give up on our planet, so let’s continue to fight no matter what setbacks come our way.
