President Donald Trump is set to sign actions on Monday that solidify his plans to undo America's climate and clean energy advancements and emphasize fossil fuels, including his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement.
These actions come at a time when Southern California is grappling with devastating fires exacerbated by climate change, following the hottest year on record globally, which saw two major hurricanes, Helene and Milton, wreak havoc in the Southeast.
In his inauguration speech, Trump mentioned declaring a 'national energy emergency,' despite the fact that the U.S. is currently leading in oil production compared to any other period in history.
Trump's agenda includes efforts to simplify permitting processes and review regulations that he deems as hindrances to energy production, such as mining and processing of non-fuel minerals. Additionally, he plans to cease land and water leasing for wind energy projects.
Recent scientific reports indicate that the planet surpassed 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming last year for the first time, a critical threshold that experts have cautioned against breaching due to potential irreversible consequences. This milestone was a key target set by world leaders when they signed the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Once global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius, the human-induced climate crisis, driven by the emission of heat-trapping fossil fuels, surpasses the capacity of both humanity and the natural world to adapt effectively.
