The apprehensions have turned into reality. Yes, my reference is to US President Donald Trump’s latest statements (anti-ESG policies) on climate mitigation and environmental protection.
The anti-ESG movement started by a section of American corporate/ community will undoubtedly gain momentum. This, for sure will dampen the efforts of other countries to arrest the temperature rise below 1.5 degrees.
The key points of Tump’s executive orders:
- Formally withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement.
- Declare an energy emergency, which could unlock new powers to suspend certain environmental rules or expedite permissions for certain mining projects.
- Reverse the ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters.
- Repeal regulations on tailpipe pollution from cars and light trucks, and eliminate the electric vehicle mandate.
- Open the Alaska wilderness to more oil and gas drilling.
- Restart reviews of new export terminals for liquefied natural gas
- Halt the leasing of federal waters for offshore wind farms.
- Eliminate environmental justice programs that protect poor communities from excess pollution.
- Review all federal regulations that impose an “undue burden” on the development or use of a variety of energy sources, particularly coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power, hydropower, and biofuels.
- Roll back the energy efficiency norms on certain white goods.
- Move away from protections for transgender people and identify only two genders
- Terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the federal government.
Only four countries in the world are now not party to the agreement with the US joining in. President Trump did pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement earlier as well. The withdrawal from the accord was during his first term in 2017.
The immediate effects of the latest could mirror those of the previous exit.
- It disrupted the international climate diplomacy.
- It halted essential contributions to climate finance.
- Weakened the US’s position in international climate negotiations
- Failed to accelerate domestic carbon emission controls
The positive is that, in the absence of US leadership, countries like China, India, and members of the European Union took lead in the global green energy transition.
We at WriteCanvas has been vocal about the bold, focused and collective action required to tackle the climate crisis. It is now more urgent than ever considering the ugly and frequent natural calamities the human race is fighting in the recent past. Devastating effects on communities from the record-breaking heat, floods, storms, drought, and wildfires ravaging across the globe, if not enough to bring the mindset change, then what else can?
The devastating news of increased climate casualties globally in the last two years alone underscores the grave risks we face. One nation alone cannot bring the change, but collective action at the leadership level will help build climate-resilient communities. The process will enable us to achieve net-zero emissions and bring back a liveable planet.
While most countries are fighting to mobilize the required funds for climate action, President Trump’s orders deliver a blow to the entire effort.
I want to leave you all with the message of the secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres during his New Year message. He said that the world is witnessing “climate breakdown—in real-time.”
“We must exit this road to ruin. In 2025, countries must put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions and supporting the transition to a renewable future,” he said, stressing that “it is essential—and it is possible.”
Let us step up and act more rather than worry too much into the US action, though it will have a ripple effect…
