Of the many ways Donald Trump’s return to the White House promises to upend federal policy, none is more predictable and pernicious than the U-turn he and his allies are threatening to take on climate change and environmental protection. Almost none. Fortunately, California has considerable power to counter the onslaught.
The first Trump administration rolled back more than 100 regulations related to clean air and water, toxic chemicals, and wildlife protection. He called global warming a hoax, withdrew from the Paris climate accord, shrunk the nation’s monuments, and appointed an Environmental Protection Agency administrator who helps polluters at the expense of public health.
Many experts believe Trump’s election will be the final nail in the coffin for efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. After all, he urged oil company executives to take on his latest campaign in exchange for rolling back environmental regulations.
Given that Republicans hold a majority in both the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, and a conservative Supreme Court is hostile to environmental regulations, President Trump’s anti-environmental excesses need to be checked at the state and local level. There will be.
To that end, as part of plans to launch a second major campaign against President Trump’s policies, Governor Gavin Newsom called a special session of Congress to prepare California’s legal defense. was convened. Newsom, Atty. General Rob Bonta and other leaders in California and like-minded states could form an important bulwark against attacks on environmental protection, just as they did eight years ago. Former State Atty. General Xavier Becerra filed more than 100 lawsuits against the first Trump administration, many on environmental issues, and won far more cases than he lost.
But California officials can’t just play defense. They should use the power and influence of the state to launch environmental attacks and counter the impending damage as much as possible.
The Trump campaign’s expected rollback of President Biden’s electric vehicle tax credit and other benefits could cement California’s reputation for consistency on climate policy. If the federal government backs away from these policies, the U.S. will become less competitive by ceding leadership in clean energy technology to China, Europe, and other rivals. Meanwhile, the strength and stability of the world’s fifth-largest economy make it an attractive innovation and investment partner at a time when the federal government is chaotic. This worked in California’s favor in 2019, when Ford, Honda and other automakers sidestepped the Trump administration’s efforts to ease emissions standards and struck deals with California, citing a need for “regulatory certainty.” tied.
“They didn’t hate Trump,” said Mary Nichols, then chair of the California Air Resources Board. “They wanted relief, but they wanted to have a discussion with people based on science and data, not ideology.”
Also strengthening California’s position is a climate and energy landscape that has changed dramatically in eight years, and President Trump’s policies are at odds with economic realities.
Electric vehicles are rapidly increasing worldwide. One in five new cars sold today is battery-powered, and 1.7 million electric vehicles are expected to be sold in the U.S. this year, compared to 8 at the start of President Trump’s first term. This will be more than double. More than 40% of the country’s electricity now comes from carbon-free sources, twice as much as in 2016.
The Inflation Control Act, the landmark climate law signed by Biden, sparked a boom in electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, and other clean energy technologies that unfairly benefited red states and districts. President Trump has promised to “cancel all unspent funds” under the law, but 18 House Republicans have told Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) that the clean energy tax credit will “rescind all unspent funds” under the law. , encouraged investment, and created good jobs in many parts of the country, including many districts represented by Republicans.
President Trump could face pressure not to renege on his pledge to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from other unanticipated sources. The head of Exxon Mobil warned him not to withdraw from the Paris climate accord because the world needs a system to control emissions.
There are also a number of self-imposed obstacles, including President Trump’s choice of former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the EPA, but his primary qualification appears to be loyalty. Mr. Zeldin’s lack of environmental experience could hamper deregulation efforts, which require considerable expertise, legal rigor, and time.
Anne Carlson, a professor of environmental law at the University of California, Los Angeles and former acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said President Trump’s plan to purge career federal government employees and replace them with loyalists is a sign of Trump’s plan to roll back regulations. He said this could further impair his ability. “The reality is that we can’t get anything done without good public servants,” she says.
Still, Trump could do great damage if he attacks states that are trying to address climate change. New efforts are expected to revoke California’s exemptions to set tougher vehicle emissions standards, some of which have not yet been approved by Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency. The state’s ability to respond to climate change disasters is also at risk. President Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold federal aid to fight wildfires in California, and his second term Project 2025 strategy calls for dismantling the National Weather Service.
Ensuring California’s own safety will require creative new policies that allow California to stand on its own feet. This comes amid tough measures from state regulators such as the State Public Utilities Commission and Air Resources Board, as well as local governments such as the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which has long stalled efforts to tighten regulations against Southern California’s biggest polluters. means. Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.
Local leaders like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will need to do more. So far, she has failed to use her control of the Port of Los Angeles to take meaningful steps to clean up dirty diesel emissions.
At a time when we can’t afford it, we face the threat of years of loss due to climate change. It’s time for state and local leaders to step up and show that despite the second Trump administration, environmentally responsible policies are still possible if we fight for them.
