The world today is beset with divergent viewpoints, not just on governance but also with greater mistrust of those with opposing views. This polarisation is on full view in the US, where domestic politics often influence international agendas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we head into the US Presidential elections on 5 November 2024, sustainability and climate change, including achieving Net Zero by 2050, are certain to be key issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the Republicans, former President Donald Trump will be back on the ballot as he takes on the current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, Republican policies have tended to favour industries reliant on fossil fuels, while Democrats have focused on addressing and mitigating climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given their opposing stance, a potential second term for Donald Trump may significantly impact sustainability efforts within the US and its role in tackling global environmental challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read Also: Time Magazine\u2019s World\u2019s 500 Most Sustainable Companies of 2024: 6 Singapore Companies On The List & And Why They Are There<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We need only reflect on Donald Trump\u2019s first term as US President (from 2017-2021) to understand the potential impact on sustainability efforts if he wins a second term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2021 analysis by the New York Times \u2013 using research from Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, and others \u2013 found that President Trump rolled back or reversed around 100 environmental rules during his time in the oval office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most notable action was the formal withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement. Although Trump announced the US’s intention to exit the agreement in June 2017, the official withdrawal only took effect in November 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Established in 2015, the Paris Agreement aimed to prevent global temperature rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. It represented a landmark global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and was endorsed by nearly every country, with 195 signatories (with the EU counting as a single entity). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US\u2019s exit was a significant setback for international climate efforts. Despite trailing China\u2019s overall greenhouse emissions, the US is the world\u2019s largest economy and contributes about 15% of global emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If Trump secures a second term, his track record poses a risk to similar undoing of any efforts made by the US in climate leadership and potentially impeding global efforts to address climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donald Trump\u2019s support for the fossil fuel industry was evident during his time in office \u2013 particularly through actions that favoured traditional energy sources over sustainable alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instances, the replaced the Clean Power Plan, introduced by President Obama, with less stringent regulations \u2013 reducing pressure on industries to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Under trump\u2019s regulations, the required annual improvement in fuel economy for cars and light trucks was reduced from 5% to just 1.5% for model years 2021 to 2026. That was a blow to decarbonising the transport industry, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump\u2019s administration also relaxed rules governing methane emissions from oil and gas production on public lands, reporting requirements for methane emissions. While these policies were designed to bolster fossil fuel production, their overall impact might be limited due to broader market trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Market forces are increasingly driving the shift towards cleaner energy sources. For example, power generation in the US using coal dropped 25%<\/a> during Trump\u2019s presidency from 2017 to 2021. This decline can be attributed to the growing cost-efficiency of renewable energy sources \u2013 like solar and wind energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall market momentum may act as a natural counterbalance on the effects of policies favoring fossil fuels, potentially diminishing Trump’s influence on energy transition in the US and the rest of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRolling Back Climate Leadership<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Providing Support For Fossil Fuels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n