Donald ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Trump Is Making Climate Activists Nervous – And With Good Reason

Trump as US President would set the country back in the fight against climate change, which is why green activists are discussing what to do should he take the White House. 

Not Everyone Loves Trump 

With the US Presidential elections creeping closer, many climate advocates worldwide are bracing themselves for a cancellation of various green policies should Donald Trump win a second term. 

But Why? 

On numerous occasions, Trump has made his view on climate change crystal clear. 

In addition to supporting fossil fuels, Trump has also claimed he plans on reversing much of the renewable energy policies put in place by the Biden administration.

And nobody needs reminding about his infamous words said at his convention speech: “…we will drill, baby, drill.” 

Big on Oil 

Trump’s promises are anything but hollow. In fact, during his term as President, America became the biggest oil producer globally in 2018 and has not shifted from that position since.

Since then, no other country in the world has produced more oil than the US. 

Four Years Too Long 

Suppose Trump does take the White House in November, and his administration implements the objectives of conservative advocacy groups aimed at dissolving environmental safeguards and promoting extensive drilling.

That means that the US could face four whole years of unrestrained carbon emissions. 

Back To Fossil Fuels

In short, the United States with President Trump would likely mean a total disregard for the country’s climate responsibilities from 2025 until 2029. 

Worsening Global Warming 

During those four years, the greenhouse gas emissions from the US will ensure a hotter world than it would have been without President Trump. 

Man-made global warming has already decreased the habitability levels of many regions. And as stated by atmospheric climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan, exacerbating this situation would result in an “unmitigated disaster.” 

You Do You 

German-based climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Anders Levermann doesn’t completely agree with Ramanathan.

According to him, the damage caused by another Trump term would be manageable, although the US would be setting itself up for more difficulties. “In 20 years, we as a globe have to be at zero emissions,” Levermann said.

The US Left Behind? 

Thus, under Trump, America would be removing itself from the green race for four years, hindering its own power while the rest of the world continues changing for the better. 

He’s Got the Power 

Major obstacles await climate supporters if Trump wins a second term. That’s because he would have all the necessary tools to cause major damage to the international climate regime – remember that he removed the US from the 2015 Paris Agreement while labeling climate change as a “hoax”. 

Tick Tock 

Time is another factor stressing out climate activists. Because when the next US President’s term ends in January 2029, our warmer planet will have undergone much more damage compared to now. 

And as climate scientists rightfully state, emissions anywhere on Earth equals global warming for everyone. 

Project 2025, Anyone?  

This is another stress factor, as this document, which was put forth by the Heritage Foundation, details a systematic approach to restructuring the federal government under President Trump. 

Undoing Green Progress 

Among other things, Project 2025 includes the undoing of nearly all federal efforts aimed at decreasing climate change. That would significantly complicate fundamental scientific research in this area, not to mention actively supporting the increased utilization of oil and gas resources. 

He Doesn’t? 

Although Trump has stated that he knows nothing about Project 2025, it doesn’t change the fact that it was regulated by various of his top former advisers.

Plus, it falls very much in line with Trump’s feelings toward global warming.  

You Scratch My Back… 

According to The Washington Post, Trump stated to various top oil executives that for a donation of $1 billion to push him back into the White House, he would dissolve various environmental regulations and halt developing ones as well. 

Green Scam? 

This was supported by Trump’s own words during his convention acceptance speech on July 18th where he said: “All of the trillions of dollars that are sitting there not yet spent … we will not allow it to be spent on meaningless Green New Scam ideas.”

D-Day for Biden 

The anti-Trump resistance gained significant momentum after the presidential debate on June 27th.

Following President Joe Biden’s abysmal performance, it became clear that he could very well lose, according to an insider (who was afforded the privilege of anonymity to reveal private communications), who also says that climate diplomacy WhatsApp groups lit up the next morning in “fear and awkwardness.”

Harris Is In 

Although the subsequent rise of Kamala Harris as a replacement for Biden did reveal a bit of a silver lining, it hasn’t completely evaporated the urgency faced by climate activists.

According to Jochen Flasbarth, Germany’s State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, “Joe Biden has ultimately done a great service to international climate efforts with his decision not to run.”

What Next? 

So, what are the current plans to deal with Trump?

According to three individuals familiar with the arrangements, side meetings have been scheduled for September to deliberate on the appropriate response to Trump during the United Nations General Assembly’s New York meeting.  

A Global Platform 

The U.N. Climate Summit, or COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan is another crucial opportunity where world leaders will come together mere days after the US elections in November. 

A key objective of that meeting ought to be to convey a clear message to the markets that the global transition away from fossil fuels is still on track, said Camilla Born. Born is a former senior adviser to prior climate summit presidencies in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. 

Timing Is Everything 

As Born states: “Business and investment is really affected by moods. That’s why I think it is actually very helpful that the COP is timed shortly after the election because it just focuses the minds of heads of state to draw lines in the sand.” 

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