While Democratic Party supporters express their disappointment on social media and the media delve into “who’s to blame” for Kamala Harris’ debacle, Donald Trump is gearing up for his grand return to the political stage as President of the United States.
The controversial businessman and multimillionaire has once again captured the majority of votes, relying on his recognizable “down-to-earth” approach and openly conservative, anti-globalist views. His vision promises an America that will once again be “the most powerful nation in the world.” While some celebrate the return to former glory, others see it as a dangerous step backward. Either way, the days until the inauguration are counting down quickly, with the eyes of the world fixed on Donald Trump and his plans for America’s future.
There is no doubt that the next four years will be just as eventful as the election itself. But let’s turn now to the issue of climate change and what the return of Republicans means for the planet’s future.
Climate scientists warn that Trump’s policies favor fossil fuels and downplay the importance of environmental regulations, posing a serious challenge to the global fight against climate change.
His first term is remembered for the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the rollback of hundreds of environmental protection regulations. He has already announced similar measures for his upcoming term. There are also concerns that the U.S. will reduce its investments in innovation and clean energy, given that the newly elected president is known for his skepticism of the scientific consensus on climate change.
It’s clear that Trump remains steadfast in his anti-climate stance, as nothing during his four-year hiatus has convinced him of the seriousness of climate change, which he has repeatedly described as a “hoax” by globalists.
For this reason, many climate and political analysts see Trump’s victory as a looming disaster, at least when it comes to the climate crisis. However, perhaps they haven’t been entirely fair to this Republican when reaching such alarming conclusions.
To get a sense of what the next four years in the U.S. might look like, we must reflect on his term from 2017 to 2021. During that time, there was no climate catastrophe as predicted. In fact, greenhouse gas emissions declined—partly due to a shift from coal to natural gas and renewable energy, and partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now that it’s evident his first term did not plunge the world into a climate disaster, there’s no reason to panic before we see how things unfold once he takes office.
After all, although the other side loudly advocates for fighting climate change, we cannot say that Kamala Harris’ campaign stayed consistent with these principles. Numerous public figures took turns at the podium generously supporting the “blue” side, while offstage, they traveled in their private jets, which, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), emit as much greenhouse gas in just two hours as the average person does in an entire year.
So, let’s not rush to conclusions. Trump might surprise us all by leaving behind not only a stronger society that many Americans hope for but also a healthier planet.
