With the prospect of a second Trump presidency looming, climate-change experts are bracing for a shift in U.S. environmental policy that could roll back critical progress in addressing global warming. Trump, whose first term saw him favor the oil and gas industry and retreat from international climate commitments, has signaled his intention to focus on economic growth rather than climate action in a potential second term. As a result, environmental advocates are once again looking to state governments, cities, and nonprofit organizations to lead the charge in combating climate change.
During his initial presidency, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, rolled back numerous environmental regulations, and actively promoted the fossil-fuel industry. This included weakening restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions and advocating for increased oil, gas, and coal production. With his recent promises to prioritize economic growth over environmental concerns, experts worry about the long-term environmental consequences of his policies.
“We need states, cities, businesses, and organizations to step up, just as we did in 2017,” said Gina McCarthy, former EPA Administrator under President Obama and current co-chair of America is All In, a climate coalition. “We cannot afford to let anyone stand in the way of ensuring a healthier, safer future for our children and grandchildren.”
The Growing Crisis: Heat, Hurricanes, and Flooding
Last summer was the hottest in recorded history, and experts warn that extreme heat, wildfires, and storms are increasingly affecting communities. The U.S. is already experiencing devastating climate impacts, including a rise in extreme weather events like wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding, all of which have caused billions of dollars in damages.
Under Trump’s policies, many of these risks were exacerbated. His administration weakened climate change mitigation efforts and provided more leeway for the oil and gas industry, potentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions at a time when scientists have warned about the urgent need to cut emissions. Rising temperatures and more frequent natural disasters are already putting lives and livelihoods at risk.
“It’s clear that climate change is accelerating, and the impacts are more severe than ever,” said Professor Leah Stokes of the University of California, Santa Barbara. “The stakes couldn’t be higher. Continuing to ignore climate science will put future generations in even greater danger.”
Trump’s Vision for Energy: More Drilling, Less Regulation
Trump has made no secret of his intention to ramp up fossil-fuel production if elected for a second term. On the campaign trail, he promised to “drill, drill, drill,” and continue expanding oil and gas extraction, as well as ramping up coal production. These measures are seen by Trump as economic boons, helping to lower fuel prices and boost job growth. However, climate experts argue that increasing fossil-fuel extraction will only accelerate global warming and lock the U.S. into a high-carbon future.
To this end, Trump has also vowed to reduce the pace of the transition to electric vehicles, which are seen as essential to cutting emissions in the transportation sector—a major source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. His administration’s past policies have included dismissing renewable energy and undermining efforts to tackle climate change, leaving many in the environmental community deeply concerned about the future under a second Trump presidency.
Trump recently appointed former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin to run the EPA, signaling his continued commitment to a deregulatory approach. Zeldin has been a strong advocate for reducing regulations on the fossil-fuel industry, and Trump’s campaign promises suggest that environmental protections will take a back seat to economic interests in his second term.
Will States and Cities Fill the Void?
As Trump’s second term may lead to a reduction in federal climate action, many experts are looking to state and local leaders to take charge. Governors and mayors from both Democratic and Republican states have already proven that significant climate action is possible at the local level. The U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors, represents nearly half of the U.S. population and is committed to fighting climate change, even if the federal government takes a step back.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who co-chairs the Climate Alliance, has emphasized that the state’s growing wind-energy sector has demonstrated that clean energy can be both environmentally and economically beneficial. “We know that the climate economy works. There’s no going back,” she said. “The private sector has mobilized trillions of dollars into the clean energy market, and the shift toward renewable energy is already underway.”
In addition to renewable energy, several states are focused on climate resilience, such as building flood barriers, improving wildfire management, and creating stronger infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events. However, the scope of these efforts may be limited by federal policies that deprioritize climate action.
Nonprofits Lead the Charge
Environmental nonprofits are also stepping up, despite the federal government’s stance. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has launched a satellite, MethaneSAT, designed to monitor methane emissions worldwide. This new tool allows EDF to track emissions and hold both corporations and governments accountable for leaks. According to EDF’s president Fred Krupp, “The U.S. government’s lack of action on climate change would be catastrophic, but no matter who’s in power, we have to keep pushing for climate solutions.”
The National Audubon Society, which works across political lines to advocate for environmental protections, has also pledged to continue its work regardless of who occupies the White House. “Climate change is not a partisan issue. It’s a human issue,” said Felice Stadler, Audubon’s vice president of government affairs. “We will continue to fight for policies that protect both our communities and the natural world.”
The Road Ahead: Uncertainty, but Action Must Continue
While climate-change experts remain wary of the rollback of federal protections under Trump’s policies, they remain committed to pushing for climate action at the state, local, and nonprofit levels. Climate change is one of the most urgent threats to global security, and as recent studies show, its impacts are already being felt in the form of stronger hurricanes, more extreme temperatures, and rising sea levels.
“We can’t afford to wait,” said Professor Stokes. “Climate change is happening now, and we need to act as if our lives depend on it—because they do.”
The fight for climate action will continue—whether through state-level initiatives, the work of environmental organizations, or by pressuring the federal government to uphold international commitments. Despite the challenges ahead, many remain hopeful that the momentum for change is unstoppable. As the private sector continues to invest in clean energy and the demand for action grows, there is hope that the future of the planet will not be defined by the politics of today but by the commitment to protecting tomorrow.
