Trump’s plan to reshape US energy and environmental policy could redefine climate response

President-elect Donald Trump aims to overhaul energy and environmental policies, from boosting fossil fuels to dismantling Biden-era regulations, signaling a major shift in America’s approach to climate action.

Robin Bravender reports for E&E News.


In short:

  • Trump’s team plans to reverse Biden’s environmental protections, focusing on fossil fuel expansion and regulatory rollbacks.
  • Key appointments, including figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may oversee policy shifts, with Musk potentially leading deregulation efforts and Kennedy targeting public health agency practices.
  • Clean energy advocates brace for resistance, hoping existing renewable projects, many in Republican districts, will sustain bipartisan support despite Trump’s rollback plans.

Key quote:

“Trump 2.0 is going to get twice the fight from the protectors of our planet, wildlife and basic human rights."

— Kierán Suckling, Center for Biological Diversity

Why this matters:

Trump’s policy agenda indicates a return to a more traditional, fossil-fuel-heavy approach. Clean energy supporters, who have seen renewables make major inroads even in red states, are now bracing for impact, hoping that existing bipartisan investments in wind and solar—especially in conservative-leaning areas—might soften Trump’s forceful approach. Read more: Donald Trump wins US presidency. What that could mean for the environment.

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