Since the 1970s, environmental activism has grown into a global movement, with both political leaders and ordinary citizens pushing for exploitative corporations to reduce their carbon emissions, deforestation and unsustainable industrial processes. In the same decade, the call for the U.S. government to lead a legislative stand against global warming arose. This demand meant that any political figure campaigning to run for president would likely address this growing issue enthusiastically. Despite this, current U.S. President Donald J. Trump refuses to address climate change constructively or recognize its pressing status.
“Trump’s plans are directly causing us to go backwards in terms of environmental protection and will ultimately destroy the country. As time runs out to reverse the effects of climate change, the one thing our leaders should do is make an effort to prevent it; however, Trump’s rollbacks on policies and withdrawals on treaties show that he is trying to accelerate the effects of climate change. If he does not come up with any sort of plan soon, it shows where his interests lie, which is not with the American people,” magnet sophomore Naeema Kallon said.
Unlike other presidents, Trump did not campaign with promises of combating or reducing U.S. contributions to global warming. Instead, he assured citizens that he would focus on reducing American involvement in global climate change efforts. Trump’s 2024 election marked the time when the U.S. initiated its withdrawal from the International Paris Agreement, an accord where nearly all countries agreed to curb climate change by setting global emission reduction goals. Even as a single country, in terms of global warming, the U.S. ranks second in carbon emissions. Furthermore, President Trump has repeatedly chosen to roll back the environmental regulations established by the previous Biden Administration. These choices raise questions as to whether President Trump understands or even believes in the immense impact of climate change, and the severe effects it will continue to leave for generations to follow.
“This ‘climate change,’ it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion. All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong. They were made by stupid people who have cost their countries fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success. If you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail,” Trump said.
While the Earth’s climate has varied throughout the millennia, the current global warming rate occurs at a pace unmatched by the past 10,000 years. Before reversing climate change, global leaders must first collaborate to limit its current effects. Trump has not only proven his inability to act against climate change, but his executive actions continue to further its consequences. The effects of global warming span national borders, but the movement to combat it must start at the local level. Donald Trump’s lack of action to respond to this global crisis proves that the absence of government and legislative cooperation poses significant challenges to national and international climate action.
