The stakes for our planet are higher than ever. According to scientists, 2024 is projected to be the hottest year recorded. A recent United Nations report said action against global climate change is moving way too slowly. World leaders NEED to step up their efforts or there is no chance of meeting international goals to limit temperatures. It needs to start here in the United States.

President Joe Biden was focused on addressing the climate crisis. This included proposing a clean energy economy that benefited all Americans, healthier air and cleaner water. Stated goals from the White House included:

• Reducing U.S./ greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030

• Reaching 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035

• Achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050

• Delivering 40% of the benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities

The Biden-Harris administration made steps to reach these goals by reducing climate pollution, cut energy costs for the country. 

Congress passed President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, which made the largest investments in climate and energy policy in American history. The IRA aimed to lower energy costs for consumers and small businesses, advanced environmental justice policies, and supported domestic clean energy manufacturing. It focused on lowering energy costs while creating millions of good-paying jobs for American workers. 

The Administration also took action to restore protections for the environment and public health. Pollution standards have been increased and over 41 million acres of public land and water have been protected. Companies have invested to build more than 580 new clean energy manufacturing facilities from coast to coast. Investment in electric vehicles has reached over $390 billion while sales quadrupled from the milestone of 1 million annual EV sales in 3 years. These EV companies have also announced a battery manufacturing capacity to supply 13 million EVs by 2030.

President-elect Trump has different plans for his climate policy. During his campaign President Trump downplayed environmental issues and consequences of climate change. Trump also wants to get rid of nearly all of the Biden administration’s climate change regulations. Already calling for the partial repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden’s signature climate law, which has made record investments in clean energy. President Trump also wants to cancel acts aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions, arguing many of these acts will hurt the auto industry. 

On November 16th, 2024 Trump announced Chris Wright, a fossil fuel executive, to lead the U.S. Department of Energy. He plans to expand oil and gas drilling. The president-elect is also expected to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement just as he did last term. This international treaty gathers almost 200 countries to help efforts in reducing climate change, but they are struggling to keep the globe’s temperature down. According to government affairs director the World Resources Institute,