The Trump administration has issued a number of executive orders on energy and the environment, acting on his campaign pledges to reprioritize federal policy in those areas. The orders included rescinding Executive Order 140008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad”, and others on climate change and migration, clean energy production, and climate-related financial and flooding risk. The US has also withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and international climate finance commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – a global commitment adopted at COP21 in 2015 to limit the increase in global average temperatures to “well below 2C” above pre-industrial levels, while working to restrict the rise to 1.5C. The US provides approximately 22% of the UNFCCC secretariat’s budget, with the body’s operating costs projected at $96.5 million for 2024-2025. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has committed to provide financial support, and confirmed that he will also uphold the USA’s reporting obligations under the Paris Agreement by tracking and reporting the nation’s non-federal climate commitments.
The decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement comes amidst the devastating California wildfires, which are estimated to have incurred economic damages ranging from $52 billion to $57 billion. Climate scientists have emphasized the role of escalating global temperatures in increasing the flammability of vegetation, thereby increasing the potential for fires. Experts warn that as the planet warms, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding, are likely to increase, resulting in substantial economic and environmental consequences annually.
State-Level Sustainability Efforts
Following the administration’s introduction of executive orders impacting environmental initiatives at the federal level, 24 states, along with the District of Columbia, have adopted specific greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets to address climate change. These policies encompass a range of strategies, including carbon pricing, emissions limits, renewable portfolio standards (RPS), and measures to promote cleaner transportation. States primarily utilize carbon pricing to combat emissions through “cap-and-trade” programs, although carbon taxes are gaining traction in some regions. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), encompassing 11 states, has successfully implemented cap-and-trade within the power sector.
California’s comprehensive cap-and-trade program covers a significant portion of its economy and has established a link with the Canadian province of Quebec. Massachusetts employs a dual approach, participating in RGGI while concurrently operating its own independent cap-and-trade program to reduce CO2 emissions from electricity generating facilities, thereby contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions in the power sector.
The first Trump administration witnessed the rise of coalitions dedicated to reducing GHG emissions, even as the US initiated the withdrawal process from the Paris Agreement. A prominent example is the US Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors representing approximately 60% of the US economy and 55% of the US population. The alliance has pledged to sustain and advance climate action across America, announcing its intention to host and lead several climate initiatives that its member states launched in partnership with the Biden-Harris administration.
States and Territories in the US Climate Alliance
Multi-state partnerships provide a platform for participating members to increase collaboration, share evidence-based practices, engage experts and stakeholders, and develop scalable solutions.
City-Level Sustainability Efforts
Cities have played a crucial role in advancing climate policies for a long time, and will continue to do so. Climate Mayors, which started as a network of 30 mayors in 2017, is now a bipartisan network of nearly 350 US mayors driving climate action in their communities. These cities continue investing in public transportation, green infrastructure, and local emissions-reduction initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change and build more sustainable urban environments with or without federal action on climate.
- St. Louis’ Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) ordinance requires at least 65% of the buildings to improve their energy efficiency, reducing GHG emissions and boosting job creation and economic development. The ordinance covers municipal, commercial, institutional and residential properties that are 50,000 square feet and larger.
- Portland’s citywide network of street improvements has helped to speed transit service and increase transit ridership.
- Cincinnati’s WarmUp Cincy program assists tenants who live at or below the poverty line with in-unit energy equipment upgrades and financial help to pay energy bills.
- Building Green Saint Paul, a cross-sector collaboration involving industry, labor, government, and community-based organizations committed to climate resilience, equity, and workforce development in the construction and energy industries. Building Green Saint Paul works to support the city’s larger goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 achieved in a way that benefits marginalized and frontline communities.
- Pittsburgh requires all new or renovated city government buildings to be net-zero energy ready, achieved through maximizing energy efficiency and sourcing renewable energy.
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s executive orders and withdrawal from the Paris Agreement marked a significant departure from international climate cooperation and has sparked widespread criticism. While this decision aimed to reverse environmental regulations and prioritize domestic energy production, it did not deter state and local governments from pursuing their own sustainability agendas. Initiatives such as the US Climate Alliance have continued to implement ambitious climate policies, including carbon pricing mechanisms, renewable energy standards, and investments in clean transportation.
Furthermore, cities across the nation have emerged as key drivers of climate action, implementing local initiatives such as building energy performance standards, expanding public transportation, and investing in green infrastructure. These bottom-up approaches demonstrate the resilience of the sustainability movement and the determination of various actors to address the climate crisis, even in the face of federal inaction.
