What the climate change means for Europeans

Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement in his first term in office (2017-2021), Trumps Successor Joe Biden on the first day of his term in office – now the USA is out again. Furthermore, Trump has Climate decree from his predecessor withdrawn. Specifically, he announced one “national energy emergency” and thus initiate a series of measures. His key points:

Drill, baby, drill Trump emphasizes that the US has the largest oil and gas reserves in the world and would use these resources to stimulate the economy. He plans to lift or greatly relax restrictions on exploration and production – even in sensitive regions like Alaska.

No environmental regulations A number of Biden regulations to combat climate change are set to be repealed or relaxed. This affects, among other things, stricter emissions and consumption regulations for vehicles as well as subsidies for electric cars and the scaling back of energy efficiency standards for household appliances.

Fight against wind power Wind power in particular, which already accounted for ten percent of US electricity production in 2023, is in Trump’s sights. It remains unclear how successful Trump’s attempts to dismantle climate protection will be. The USA had its peak in greenhouse gas emissions in 2007, and since then greenhouse gas emissions have been falling steadily, most recently under Trump in 2020 (in the first Covid year). It is clear that the reduction will take place much more slowly.

The EU’s response

One “unfortunate developmenthe commented EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra the events in Washington, but the EU “remains committed to working with the US and our international partners, to address the urgent issue of climate change“. And EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the Paris Agreement remains the best hope for all of humanity.

Trump’s declarations of war will not leave the European Green Deal without a trace. The new right-wing majority in the EU Parliament has already begun to reject parts of the Green Deals to go back. Under the heading “Reducing bureaucracy“There should also be rules for sustainability reporting (ESG) and CO₂-Border Tax (CBAM) will be shut down. Europe’s litmus test for climate protection will be these anyway new climate targets for 2040 be – are suggested minus 90 percent. The 2030 climate goals (minus 55 percent) have long been fixed, and even the right-wing majority in the EU will not be able to change that.

The USA is just more than that anyway for around 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions China has more than twice as much – and the energy transition there is in full swing. Almost two thirds of all new green electricity systems are built in China, simply because wind and solar power are cheaper. This is also the case in the USA, which is why hardly anyone assumes that new coal-fired power plants will be built in the USA any time soon.

In addition, the 50 states have a lot of power of their own, for example when it comes to CO₂-Limits for cars. However, Trump could try to override these through federal law.