As college students at San Diego State University, many of us are preparing for futures that depend on the health of our planet. However, recent executive orders from President Donald Trump have begun to roll back years of progress on climate action—reversing many of President Biden’s key environmental protection plans and sending the U.S. down a dangerous path for the environment.
Pulling U.S. out of Paris Agreement
Diving into the specifics, during just his first term back in office, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, completely reversing U.S. climate policy. The Paris Agreement requires countries to develop nationally agreed on contributions aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Trump stepping out of this agreement means that the federal government will not be actively trying to meet emission reduction targets, nor any financial commitments relating to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change. Under this Paris Agreement, almost every country in the world agreed on the goal to reduce global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius, however, we are not on track to achieve this shared goal. On top of that, 2024 was the record for the hottest year in history with global temperatures hovering around 1.5 degrees Celsius. This certainly does not help our urge to reduce global temperatures.
Reversing Biden’s climate progress
Trump has also targeted many of Biden’s domestic climate policies. His new executive orders promote expanded oil and gas drilling, even using eminent domain to allow the government to take private land for fossil fuel production. These actions directly counter Biden’s efforts to reduce U.S. dependence on oil and transition toward cleaner energy sources.
Perhaps the most concerning is Trump’s decision to reopen areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling—an ecosystem Biden had previously protected. The Arctic’s delicate environment faces potential devastation from drilling operations that could destroy habitats, pollute fragile ecosystems and trigger long-term climate consequences.
Trump cancels clean energy projects
The Energy Department faced a $7.56 billion reduction in funding for clean energy projects, underscoring Trump’s push to scale back support for renewable energy initiatives and limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Most recent cuts include $1.2 billion to advance hydrogen energy technology, advancing climate and clean energy goals. This $1.2 billion award to California was granted to hopefully achieve the goal to meet net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. However, with the sudden cut, we are not on track to meet this environmentally-friendly goal. California governor Gavin Newsom projected that this hydrogen project would not only employ more than 200,000 people, but also become a crucial part of California’s clean energy future.
Fossil fuels take center stage
If clean energy funding is being slashed, what’s replacing it? Trump’s administration has redirected resources toward coal and other fossil fuels. Federal agencies have provided $625 million to expand coal mining on public lands and required fossil-fueled power plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania to stay open beyond their planned retirements to meet growing power demand.
According to PBS News, the administration argues these actions are needed to support rising energy use from data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles. But critics say the move locks the U.S. into higher emissions at a time when we should be transitioning away from fossil fuels altogether.
“Mine baby, mine”
Trump’s energy strategy could be summed up as “mine baby, mine.” Rather than investing in sustainable technologies, his administration has doubled down on coal, oil and gas industries that drive the climate crisis.
For students and young people across the country, this trajectory is more than political–it’s personal. Our generation will live with the consequences of today’s environmental decisions. If the U.S. continues down this path, the window for meaningful climate action may close before we even graduate.
