Trump’s win signals climate policy rollback in US and globally

Donald Trump’s victory signals a shift away from U.S. climate commitments, including plans to expand fossil fuel production, dismantle environmental protections and withdraw from the Paris climate accord.

Marianne Lavelle reports for Inside Climate News.


In short:

  • Trump’s win jeopardizes recent U.S. climate gains, with plans to undo clean energy policies, pull out of global climate agreements and support expanded fossil fuel production.
  • Environmental advocates pledge to resist rollbacks at all government levels, with some noting that clean energy investments have bipartisan support in many states.
  • Trump’s campaign successfully framed clean energy policies as economically harmful, an argument that helped him secure key battleground states.

Key quote:

"The climate movement urgently needs more political power because the climate crisis is moving infinitely faster than our politics right now."

— Nathaniel Stinnett, Environmental Voter Project

Why this matters:

The reversal of U.S. climate policies threatens global progress on carbon reduction at a critical time. By weakening environmental protections and ramping up fossil fuel use, the U.S. risks worsening climate impacts domestically and diminishing its role in international climate leadership.

Related: Trump's potential impact on climate policy

Thermometer with 100 degree reading superimposed against a scorching sunshiney sky
Credit: VladisChern/BigStock Photo ID: 198752527

El Nino: A deadly 'postcard from the future'

The current El Nino could cause 451,000 excess heat deaths. Researchers warn it offers a glimpse of temperatures that may become normal within 20 years.
Person mounding soil around a freshly planted tree seedling

Fifty billion seedlings: Can Ethiopia replant its ravaged forests?

Ethiopia is trying to restore its native forests through one of the world's most ambitious and well-funded tree-planting campaigns, but experts question whether the trees will survive.

Hoover dam on the Colorado River showing the "bathtub ring" indicative of low water levels

The Colorado River nears a worrisome threshold. These farmers are worried

Experts expect flows to soon drop to a level that could upend the byzantine “Law of the River” that has governed the river for more than a century.
A small solar panel on the balcony of a hotel

States OK solar panels for balconies. Safety guidelines haven't caught up

The “plug and play” simplicity that creates balcony solar’s appeal might not yet work safely with most household electrical systems, experts and utilities say.

A satellite image of a hurricane heading for Central America

Evidence builds showing climate change could be intensifying El Niño events

As temperatures rise in the future, the number and frequency of strong El Niños could increase even further, some experts say.

A row of glass jars with milk in them, with a sheaf of wheat in front of them

Oatly joins climate journalism campaign

The world’s largest producer of oat milk, Oatly, is pushing its customers and their governments to act on climate change, in a new milk carton campaign that's taking off in Europe and is expected in the United States within the next few months.
A view of a pump jack drilling for oil with the sunset in the background

‘Digger’ is the year’s big climate movie. This climate reporter hated it

Tom Cruise’s latest film is a crude parable about an unrepentant oil executive.
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.