Political transition in the US usually comes with many implications, which are reflected in social, ideological, economic, and diplomatic decisions. The issue of climate change is very important in the transition of the United States, particularly with the return of President-Elect Donald Trump to power. Many reports from the news media, including official documentation of the US government, have given credit to Biden, for taking some of the most decisive actions for climate resilience, and is believed to have been a continuity from where Obama stopped. Under Biden, USAID’s climate support partnership grew to 45 countries globally, with an emphasis on measures that enforce ambitious emissions reduction measures, protect vital ecosystems, promote the transition to electricity from renewable sources, develop resilience against the adverse effects of climate change, and foster the flow of capital towards climate-positive investments.
Biden passed different climate change legislation with unprecedented success. During his first year in office, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was passed. Among other things, the act requests an extra US$58 billion to decarbonize the power sector and an additional US$7.5 billion to develop the infrastructure for charging electromobility. There was the CHIPS and Science Act, which Biden signed into law in August 2022. The Act would allocate US$280 billion to boost semiconductor manufacture and research between 2023 and 2027. Research results have shown that semiconductors are essential to climate-friendly energy alternatives such as renewable energy sources and electric cars.
Essentially, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a historic piece of climate legislation, has been the Biden administration’s greatest achievement. This law provided unprecedented US$370 billion in support for the energy transition and climate change. The money will be distributed over ten years in the form of grants, loans, loan guarantees, and tax incentives for technologies like carbon capture and utilization (CCU), hydrogen, EVs, renewable energy, and CCS. Due to the growing demand for clean technology, especially electric vehicles, the budgetary cost has lately been predicted to be US$1.2 trillion, and there is no spending cap. Calculations show that if the IRA alone decreases emissions by 32–42%, the US may get much closer to its climate target by 2030.
Different from the trajectory of climate decisions during the administration of Joe Biden, it is trending across the news media that President-elect Donald Trump is prepared to expand on the ideas he implemented during his first term in office, which include lower taxes, fewer government, and a focus on states’ rights. Additionally, it is anticipated that the newly elected president and his administration will address several Biden Administration foreign policy, immigration, and environmental initiatives. Some of these policies could be enacted by executive order in the initial days and weeks of a second Trump Administration.
The incoming president, Donald Trump, has promised to carry out his aggressive deregulation policies, which include mandating that several existing regulations be repealed for each new one proposed. He has also declared his intention to “stop the flow of American tax dollars that are subsidizing Chinese electric vehicle battery companies” and to revoke the regulations implemented to promote EV adoption during the Biden administration. Additionally, he has declared his intention to ban investments in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The incoming president, Donald Trump, has called climate change a “hoax” and withdrew the US from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. President-elect Trump has pledged to withdraw again, even though President Joe Biden re-enrolled in 2021.
Just after his current emergence for a second term, Donald Trump has made very assertive statements about repealing the climate policies put in place by Joe Biden, outgoing US President. This kind of statement in the media usually should not be taken at face value. What needs to be taken into consideration are the possibilities of enhancing the involvement of the US government in climate action, both as an objective measure to sustain both the US environment and a concerted effort, at the global level, to make the planet Earth a safe and hospitable place to thrive. Therefore, the Trump administration should not simply set out to abolish all that Biden had erected as climate protection frameworks. However, Trump’s administration should seek out the ambitious yet unrealistic climate commitments and find a way to modify the involvement of the United States in climate financing.
The focus of the new government, therefore, should be on what climate actions mean, not only to the finances of US citizens but to the safety of America as a place where people of all races, with legal reasons to come in, could thrive. This will indeed be part of a broader and cardinal achievement that will make America Great again. The climate discourse in the media usually falls victim to the ‘danger of a single story’. The lens through which the implications of climate protection, are viewed, particularly as a governmental effort, usually has tendencies of politicization. In the real sense, however, if there is any politics at all that should come into play in pursuit of climate objectives, it should be a progressive politics, that gives priority to global leadership. America, being a land of opportunities, cannot afford to lessen its commitment to climate efforts, globally.
Outside of Europe, the leading Asian countries, are taking bold steps to make their environment hospitable and habitable to a global demography. For example, the UAE came up with 11 targets for climate protection and has demonstrated a willingness to continue to pursue sustainable policies to mitigate the negative trends of climate change. This decision taken by the UAE government, is not without due reference to the leading steps that countries in the Western World, particularly the US have been taking to tackle climate disorders. The administration of Donald Trump should seek to go forward rather than backward, in the quest to positively protect human habitation. The key climate issues that should engage the partnership of government and non-governmental organizations call for revision. The first is in the area of energy transition. As access to sustainable energy is continually supported, there is a need to interact with corporate leaders to foster an intentional commitment to reducing industrial emissions. From people adopting sustainable habits and advocating for change to governments implementing laws, providing incentives, and supporting investments, everyone can help mitigate climate change. Particularly for businesses and corporations that emit a lot of emissions, the private sector should be at the forefront of creating, funding, and advocating for solutions to slow down climate change.
Also, in the area of climate-protective agriculture, there is a wide array of opportunities to benefit the stability and safety of communities, by increasing the supportive base of communities, in terms of resilience against climate-related disasters such as drought, increasing temperatures, and unpredictable patterns of rainfall. Additionally, continual mitigation of hazardous agricultural practices is imperative. One of the main causes of deforestation worldwide is agriculture. It is a challenging undertaking to restructure our food systems to reverse the consequences of agriculture on forests and biodiversity. But it is also a big possibility. Adaptation and mitigation strategies related to food, water, and land are the most promising ways to deal with the climate crisis.
Adopting regenerative farming practices can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also guaranteeing a steady, just, and nutritious food supply for all people on the earth. Certain farming operations emit significant amounts of potent greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide. Examples of regenerative agriculture strategies that help attenuate, build resilience, and lessen the financial burden on farmers include improving soil health, reducing emissions from livestock, employing cover crops, and direct seeding. The policies on nutrition security will equally work well when there is basic protection of water bodies, to achieve climate-resilient water provision and sanitation.
Overall, the climate decisions of President Donald Trump in this new dispensation should not be clouded by his previous pedigree of skepticism. A conscious shift in approach would be beneficial. He should prioritize bi-partisan climate-friendly policies, with emphasis on clean energy development, and continuing incentives, like those contained in the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, as industrial decarbonization is supported, it would be imperative to support subnational leadership from states, cities, and businesses in the US, as they have shown remarkable resilience in advancing climate policies despite the volatile and complex dilemma of climate demands. President Donald Trump should ensure the US remains a global leader in climate change mitigation, acknowledging the economic benefits and national security implications of climate action.
Alamu Ibrahim is a strategic communication and digital marketing professional with a passion for climate and sustainable development advocacy. He can be reached at ioalamu@dons.usfca.edu
