On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, marking the start of a new chapter in US climate policy. In his inaugural address, Trump reaffirmed his intention to terminate the Green New Deal and withdraw from the Paris Agreement. At a time of escalating geopolitical tensions and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, the advent of the Trump 2.0 era presents yet another significant challenge to global green development and climate governance.
Trump 1.0: A Legacy of Setbacks to Global Green Development
Trump's first term (2017–2021) saw the US reverse course on climate action, departing from the pro-climate policies of the Obama administration. The decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and implement policies favoring fossil fuels created ripples across the global climate governance landscape. This \"climate retreat\" disrupted the momentum for green development and undermined international trust and collaboration.
Domestically, Trump's policies dismantled key climate initiatives, including the Clean Power Plan, replacing them with the fossil fuel-centric \"America First\" energy plan. Federal funding for climate research and green initiatives was slashed, significantly impairing clean energy and emissions reduction progress.
The local impact was palpable: the number of states actively pursuing renewable energy policies dropped from 29 in 2013 to 25 by 2019. This policy shift led to increased US greenhouse gas emissions, with estimates projecting only a 15 to 18 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2025 – far short of the 26 to 28 percent target set during the Obama administration. As the world's largest cumulative carbon emitter, the US's stalling progress placed additional pressure on other nations to meet global climate goals.
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Breaking the deadlock: Global green recovery in Trump 2.0 era
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