Trump’s USDA pick raises questions about handling climate crisis on farms
Brooke Rollins, a Trump loyalist and climate change skeptic, is nominated as Agriculture Secretary, leaving many uncertain about her approach to climate impacts on farms.
Georgina Gustin reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- Brooke Rollins, a lawyer with limited agricultural policy experience, is President-elect Trump’s pick for Agriculture Secretary, sparking doubts among some agricultural leaders.
- Rollins has dismissed CO2 concerns and supported withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, raising questions about how she will address climate-related farm challenges.
- Farmers have received billions under the Biden administration for climate-smart practices, but Rollins’ plans for such programs remain unclear.
Key quote:
“Farmers are on the front lines of the climate crisis, so if you’re the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture it’s hard to deny that climate change is a problem and it’s affecting the very people your agency is supposed to be supporting.”
— Rebecca Riley, managing director for food and agriculture at the Natural Resources Defense Council
Why this matters:
Extreme weather linked to climate change increasingly disrupts farming, demanding strategic leadership from the USDA. Decisions by the Agriculture Secretary will affect funding, conservation efforts and the livelihoods of farmers facing intensifying climate risks.
