In 2009, Donald Trump, then a real estate developer, was one of several business leaders who signed a full-page advertisement in the New York Times urging legislation to address climate change, calling it an “immediate challenge.” However, Trump’s approach to climate action has shifted dramatically since then. He has become a prominent supporter of fossil fuels and has made efforts to roll back numerous clean energy initiatives.
Currently, as the U.S. positions itself for upcoming UN climate talks in Brazil, recent actions suggest a departure from previous commitments. The U.S. State Department’s office responsible for climate negotiations has been eliminated, raising questions about representation at the talks. Moreover, Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, expanded areas for oil and gas drilling, and aimed to dismantle clean air regulations.
Experts have noted that Trump’s administration is increasingly focused on dismantling previous climate-friendly frameworks rather than building new ones. This includes halting approved offshore wind farms and undermining subsidies for renewable energy. In light of these changes, critics have expressed concerns that the U.S. is ceding leadership in the clean energy sector to countries like China.
The shift away from renewable energy has led to business closures and job losses within clean energy sectors, affecting many areas disproportionately held by Republican representatives. Energy prices are rising, and while U.S. greenhouse gas emissions continue to decline, their rate of decrease may slow in the coming years.
Experts suggest that there is a dichotomy between the Trump administration’s rhetoric of making American energy dominant and its actions that undermine renewable technologies. As the climate crisis intensifies, questions arise about the sustainability of the U.S. position on global energy and environmental leadership in an increasingly competitive geopolitical context.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/05/donald-trump-hatred-renewables-us-falling-behind-world