Editorial: Donald Trump – The environmental destroyer in the White House
During his second term as US president, Donald Trump unleashed an unprecedented wave of deregulation that systematically undermines climate protection and revives fossil fuels. After one year of Trump 2.0, observers have counted 304 climate policy setbacks, from the elimination of emissions standards to the dismantling of research institutions – facts that demonstrate a policy of active environmental destruction.[1][1][2] This agenda prioritizes industrial profits over health, ecosystems, and global climate stability, with measurable costs for millions of people worldwide.[2][1]
First term in office: 100 rollbacks as a blueprint
Trump's first presidency, from 2017 to 2021, was marked by 100 officially reversed or weakened environmental regulations, as detailed by The New York Times. Air quality regulations were hit particularly hard, with 28 changes, followed by 12 rollbacks to drilling and extraction of fossil fuels.[1][2][3] The EPA under Trump ignored scientific consensus: 97 percent of climate scientists confirm human-caused climate change, yet Trump called it a "hoax" and fired or silenced experts.[1][4]
Hundreds of scientists at the EPA and the Interior Department resigned or were fired, as they were tasked with destroying their own work. Political EPA positions went to lobbyists from the chemical and fossil fuel industries, undermining independence.[1] Websites were purged of climate terminology, and worst-case scenarios were removed from reports—a systematic attack on the facts.[1] As a result, Harvard studies predict 80.000 additional deaths per decade due to relaxed pollution regulations; particulate matter pollution is equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.[1]
Trump's EPA slashed budgets by 26 percent, laid off 1.600 employees, and replaced Obama-era standards like the Clean Power Plan with weaker versions. Power plant emissions increased while car efficiency standards declined—a loss of billions for consumers and the climate.[1][5] Water protection suffered: The "Waters of the United States" rule shrank, and wetlands lost protection from pollution.[5] PFAS "forever chemicals" remained unregulated, despite risks of cancer and birth defects; Trump vetoed cleanup plans, including those at military bases.[1]
Second term: Accelerated demolition from 2025
One year after taking office in 2025, Trump had implemented 304 deregulations – twice as many as in his first term at the same time. Executive orders such as “Unleashing American Energy” and “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” opened up drilling fields in Alaska (13 million acres), paused offshore wind farms, and revived coal.[2][6] The deregulation ratio: 129 to 1, well above the 10:1 target.[6]
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposes repealing the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which defines CO₂ as a pollutant – the basis of the Clean Air Act. This would decouple vehicle and plant emissions.[6] Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants are being overturned, as are Carbon Pollution Standards for gas and coal-fired plants.[1] Methane rules delayed until 2027: 25 million cars equivalent to more emissions.[1]
The DOE, the most active department with 83 actions, rolls back efficiency standards for appliances (47 actions, $43 billion in additional costs). CAFE standards for cars are dropped, despite evidence that weakening them increases fuel prices and deaths from exhaust fumes.[1][6] The Interior halts offshore wind power for “national security” reasons and opens seabeds to mineral mining.[1]
Attack on institutions and science
Trump 2.0 lays off masses: 800 NOAA employees (weather and climate research), 400 EPA scientists, FEMA teams before hurricane season. FEMA is even to be abolished; budget cuts eliminate disaster preparedness.[1][6] The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is canceled, the Social Cost of Carbon is ignored – the economic costs of climate change ($800 billion/year) are disregarded.[1]
Science is being censored: The DOE bans terms like "climate change," "emissions," and "decarbonization." NOAA removes trillion-dollar disaster trackers and climate-related terms from FEMA documents.[1] Inflation Reduction Act grants ($20 billion) are frozen, and Solar for All ($7 billion) is halted.[1] Environmental Justice Offices are closed, and funding has been cut by $1,7 billion.[1]
International isolation: Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, UN-FCCC, IPCC. Blockage of a ship CO₂ tax at the IMO.[6]
Sectoral destruction: air, water, soil
Air quality: NOx limits for gas-fired power plants weakened (from a reduction of 2.700 to 300 tons per year). Soot standards (PM2.5) are falling, despite heart/lung risks. Coal and gas emissions are rising; Harvard: 91.000 spring deaths due to oil/gas alone.[1]
Water: PFAS unregulated, contaminating 650 military bases. Clean Water Act circumvented for fossil fuel contracts.[1][6]
Land: 13 million acres of Alaska for oil/gas, coal mines without standards. “Project Density” disadvantages wind/solar in the state.[1]
Energy: LNG exports are booming (5,5 million tons/year), despite methane leaks. Coal-fired power plants are forced to remain open, renewables are delayed.[1]
| Sector | Key Rollbacks Trump 1.0 | Trump 2.0 (1 year) | Impacts [Sources] |
|---|---|---|---|
| air pollution control | 28 rules weakened | Soot/NOx/Mercury standards overturned | +80.000 deaths/decade [1][5] |
| Power plants | Clean Power Plan replaces | Carbon/Mercury standards reversed | + Billions of tons of CO? [6] |
| Cars | CAFE weakened | Complete abolition planned | +$23 billion in fuel costs [1] |
| Methane | Easing | Delay until 2027 | 25 million cars CO₂ equivalent [1] |
| Renewable | delays | Offshore wind energy paused, tax credits reduced | Slowed energy transition [6] |
Social inequality and health consequences
Environmental destruction hits minorities hard: Black communities have a 54 percent higher risk of fine particulate matter pollution, Latinos drink contaminated water more often. Trump cuts EJ programs, ignores those affected.[1] During the COVID era: The EPA paused penalties for polluters, despite respiratory illnesses.[1]
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent: NOAA reports record heat, but trackers are canceled. Hurricanes and wildfires more intense due to CO₂? [1]
Global and economic dimensions
As the top CO₂ emitter, Trump is signaling that climate protection is optional. The EU and China must offset their emissions, but the US withdrawal weakens the Paris Agreement. Economically, rollbacks cost consumers billions (e.g., $500 billion from the end of Energy Star), while the fossil fuel lobby profits.[1][6]
Long-term: Higher disaster costs without preparedness (FEMA cuts). Trump quote: “Climate change is a byproduct of the modern world” – an admission of destruction.[1]
Political strategy and legacy
Trump's agenda follows "10 out, 1 in": DOGE (Musk/Vivek) chases rules. Executive orders bypass Congress, but courts sometimes block them (e.g., IRA grants).[6] Lobbyists occupy positions: Fracking executives at DOE/Interior.[1]
Legacy: Accelerated climate change, irreversible damage. The facts speak for themselves: 304 actions in year 1, thousands of experts laid off, standards destroyed. Trump is not "business as usual"—he is the destroyer. [1][1][2][6]
Sources:
[1] Trump's Climate and Clean Energy Rollback Tracker https://www.actonclimate.com/trumptracker/
[2] Donald Trump's Disastrous Environmental Record https://www.lcvvictoryfund.org/trump-record/
[3] The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100… https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks-list.html
[4] Environmental policy of the first Trump administration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_policy_of_the_first_Trump_administration
[5] The Trump administration's major environmental… https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-trump-administrations-major-environmental-deregulations/
[6] Putting America First In International Environmental… https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/putting-america-first-in-international-environmental-agreements/
