The second Trump Administration begins today, January 20th 2025, raising with it questions on what the clean economy landscape will look like over the next four years in the United States. Speculation abounds as to how many climate and environmental rollbacks that Trump advocated for on the campaign trail will truly materialize, as well as how the incoming President will pursue, or not, the rapid pace of advancements in clean technology rollout in the United States seen under his predecessor Joe Biden. The first ten months of the new presidency will prove a strong indicator on what we can expect from this administration on these topics and will provide a clear direction for the country for the following three years. In the meantime, however, we must turn to the information we have in order to forecast how the clean economy landscape may evolve during this administration and highlight where we should set our focus during these first crucial months.
The Clean Economy Bridge spoke with environmental security expert Saleem Ali to help untangle the information we have on clean economy topics heading into the Trump Administration. Ali is Chair of the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences and the Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware (USA). He is also a member of the United Nations International Resource Panel.
While several people in the climate and energy policy space have shared negative forecasting of how the Trump Administration will move forward in these areas, Ali advocates for a more optimistic reading of the administration Donald Trump is putting together and emphasizes that a cooperative approach must be the priority for these next four years.
Key cabinet appointments such as former congressman Lee Zeldin for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is already a marked improvement for environmental policy than his predecessor under the last Trump Administration, Scott Pruitt. Zeldin does not, for example, advocate for the dismantling of the agency he has been tapped to lead, unlike Pruitt. He also represented New York, a state with a very strong environmental track record, including bipartisan support regarding addressing pollution of the Hudson River. While much of his environmental record is not well known and his background suggests he will take a more pro-business approach to environmental protection than Biden’s EPA administrator, Zeldin is a much more conventional appointment than many anticipated for this role.
Robert Kennedy Jr., tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, also presents a potentially positive opportunity for the clean economy landscape, as he has a long history of environmental health activism and in general brings with him a wealth of environmental sensibilities to this role, qualities largely absent from media coverage of his appointment. Ali highlights that Kennedy Jr. has, in fact, spent most of his life championing many causes relating to fertilizers, pesticides and predatory practices of the pharmaceutical industry. While there are of course other stances and statements Kennedy Jr. has made that have justifiably raised alarm bells for health experts, his portrayal in the media overlooks the opportunity he presents to gain rare bipartisan support on environmental health issues.
Nominated Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, does present possible challenges for the climate movement in the US, with his background as CEO of a fracking company and his statements questioning the reality of the climate crisis. He has, however, made statements that he will support all sources of American energy. While certainly focused on the furtherment of the fossil fuel agenda, his unlikely inclusion of renewables in his stated energy agenda suggests that, while oil and gas will continue to comprise a big part of the US energy mix, continued buildout of renewables will not reverse course as many feared.
The Trump Administration has also announced the creation of the new National Energy Council, with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum tapped to lead it in addition to his nominated role as Interior Secretary. The Council, according to Trump, will consist of all departments and agencies involved in the permitting, production, etc. of all forms of American energy. While fossil fuels will certainly play a big role here, the lack of open rejection of renewables suggests they will also be pursued, as well as the bipartisan issue of mineral security that will also be an important part of this council’s purview.
While these appointments certainly cannot be categorized as climate and environment champions, there is room for productive conversations and positive outcomes with these government departments and agencies. Ali emphasizes that the unproductive polarization around Trump’s nominations will hinder the clean economy transition in the country rather than help it. Indeed, constructive outreach by Democrats to close Trump advisors such as Elon Musk, with his background in electric vehicles and batteries, could be a huge service to the green transition agenda.
Advocates for the green transition in the United States have good reasons to be wary of the President Trump’s agenda on climate and environmental policy. While there is no room for complacency about the incoming administration, Ali emphasizes, there is and must continue to be room for constructive engagement.