Upon taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump swiftly reversed over 125 Biden-era climate policies, mirroring his 2017 rollback of a similar number of Obama’s environmental regulations.
These reversals, seen by experts and the media as “war on climate action”, come at a time when 2024 was officially recorded as the hottest year, surpassing the critical 1.5°C warming threshold, an alarming trend which is expected to worsen with the implementation of Trump’s policies.
Here’s how the Trump administration is actively reversing climate policies.
Expanding fossil fuel drilling
In his inaugural address, Trump declared, “We will drill, baby, drill,” and signed an executive order on February 14 to create the National Energy Dominance Council which aims to boost drilling efforts.
His policies fast-track pipeline approvals, dilute methane regulations, and remove EV subsidies – all to expand fossil fuel production.
Under these policies, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are predicted to rise by 36% by 2035 which is in stark contrast to Biden’s tenure that saw a 1.4% decline in missions between 2022 and 2023.
Experts warn that increased drilling will not necessarily lower gas prices since production levels were already high during Biden’s administration.
His announcement directly contradicts the global push for a transition away from fossil fuels agreed at the 2023 UAE Climate Summit (COP28).
Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
Trump’s 2025 re-withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has been largely viewed as a step towards isolating the U.S., undermining its credibility in international climate negotiations. This decision places the U.S. among just four nations – alongside Iran, Libya, and Yemen – that are not part of the agreement.
He justified the move by stating,
“…these agreements steer American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require or merit financial assistance in the interests of the American people.”
Signed by nearly 200 countries, the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts to stay under 1.5°C. The U.S., historically the largest cumulative carbon emitter, has now abandoned its pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.
His decision has emboldened other countries, with Indonesia reconsidering its emissions targets and Argentina considering an exit.
Logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
Trump’s administration has opened up over 9.3 million acres of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to logging and mining which threatens one of the world’s largest intact temperate rainforests. This move weakens a vital carbon sink that absorbs significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
Environmental groups warn that deforestation in this area could disrupt ecosystems, endanger wildlife, and accelerate climate change.
Halting electric vehicle incentives
President Joe Biden championed electric vehicle (EV) adoption by investing in subsidies and infrastructure to cut transportation-related emissions, which account for approximately 28% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
However, President Trump revoked these incentives, arguing they interfered with free-market competition. This will undo the growth that saw EV sales rise to 7.6% of U.S. auto sales in 2023.
In addition, the administration has frozen $3 billion that was earmarked for expanding EV charging stations, further hampering efforts to transition to cleaner transport.
Federal Emergency Management Agency under review
During a visit to Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina, Trump signed an executive order that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council to assess the agency’s efficiency and explore potential structural changes.
While the administration claims this review aims to improve disaster response, FEMA employees warn that weakening FEMA’s role could severely hinder the nation’s ability to respond to increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters that are being driven by climate change.
EPA budget cuts and grant suspensions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk, has suspended $67 million in grants, impacting 20 organizations that were promoting Biden’s environmental justice initiatives.
Furthermore, the administration has proposed a 31% budget cut to the EPA, a move experts warn could have serious consequences, including increased air and water pollution, higher exposure to toxic chemicals, and a surge in respiratory diseases that will affect millions of Americans.
Green New Deal termination
President Trump has also signed an executive order that formally terminates all remaining federal initiatives tied to Green New Deal principles.
This termination directly impacts the key climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, both instrumental in advancing clean energy development.
The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $369 billion to climate and energy initiatives and supported tax incentives for electric vehicles, renewable energy projects, and emissions reductions.
Similarly, the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funded nationwide upgrades in public transport, EV charging networks, and climate resilience projects.
Blocking clean energy development
Trump signed an executive order that excluded U.S. coastal waters from wind energy leases and initiated a review of all existing leases, effectively halting offshore wind projects
In addition, the administration has eliminated the “social cost of carbon” calculation from federal permitting and regulatory decisions. This was a metric previously used to assess the economic impact of carbon emissions.
See also: Will US Trump’s executive order ruin wind energy sector and revive oil, gas production?
Experts argue that these actions undermine clean energy development and weaken environmental protection.
