Trump's Executive Order Targets State Climate Laws, Provoking Rebellion

President Donald Trump continued his push to dismantle climate policies with an executive order targeting state laws aimed at addressing climate change. The order, which critics say is of questionable legality, has sparked a fierce backlash from state governments and climate advocates. Trump's move comes after weeks of pressure from fossil fuel executives, who have warned him about increasing state lawsuits against polluters.

Key Takeaways:

• The executive order targets state laws aimed at addressing climate change, which Trump claims are a burden on fossil fuel companies and threaten American energy dominance.
• The order specifically mentions California, Vermont, and New York, three states that have been particularly assertive in pursuing climate action.
• The directive gives Attorney General Pam Bondi 60 days to identify and report state laws that focus on climate change or promote environmental social governance, and to halt any that "the attorney general determines to be illegal."
• Legal scholars, environmental advocates, and at least one governor have said Trump's effort to roll back state legislation is unconstitutional, and court challenges are sure to follow.
• The American Petroleum Institute praised the order, saying it would "address this state overreach" and "help restore the rule of law."
• Climate advocates worry that the Trump administration may threaten to withhold federal funding for other programs if states don't comply with the executive order.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement, "This is the world the Trump administration wants your kids to live in. California's efforts to cut harmful pollution won't be derailed by a glorified press release masquerading as an executive order."
• Republican states benefited the most from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, a strategy some advocated could make the bipartisan legislation harder for future administrations to rescind.

Statistics:

• At least 24 states are working toward emissions reductions through the United States Climate Alliance.
• California has established a cap and trade program where power plants have to buy credits to pay for their pollution.
• Emissions have fallen in California while the economy has grown, with the state's power sector emissions decreasing by 44% from 2007 to 2020.
• The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that the Trump administration's attacks on state climate laws could lead to an additional 150-200 million tons of carbon pollution by 2030.
• The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law estimates that the executive order could threaten at least $10 billion in federal funding for clean energy projects.

Sources:

• Grist
• E&E News
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
• The Institute for Nonprofit News
• California Air Resources Board
• United States Climate Alliance