As of 2025, the United States ranks as the second largest emitter globally, following China. Climate change has had numerous impacts on the U.S. such as extreme weather, rising sea levels and effects on the economy. Record-breaking heat waves and devastating wildfires have struck California, intense hurricanes have occurred in recent years and Alaska is experiencing rapid warming. This prompts the question: is climate change being handled effectively by U.S. political leaders?
Democrats have focused on cutting carbon emissions and investing in clean energy sources, while Republicans have prioritized economic growth and energy independence. Bipartisan efforts are very much needed to mitigate the issue, but the extreme polarization of the country has slowed the progress of collaboration.
When asked about Bipartisan policies, Aliso’s AP United States History teacher, Mrs. Reilly, explained, “I think that we have to look at the environment like it is not a democratic or a republican issue. At its core it’s an issue that the next generations are going to have to grapple with. Bipartisan support would allow for more policies that would support environmental protections to be implemented across industries and protect national parks.”
In 2022, Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act. The act is considered to be the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history as it offered funding, programs and reduced the price of renewable energy to help the U.S. transition to a clean energy economy, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. Additionally, under the Biden administration, the U.S. rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, an international climate treaty that is meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, with efforts to stop the rise of climate change at 1.5 Celsius. While the treaty has stimulated global action, some critics argue that the treaty’s flexibility in enforcement has limited its effectiveness as many countries, including the U.S., have struggled to meet their reduction targets.
Donald Trump’s policies prioritize economic and energy independence over environmental regulations. His decisions since taking office have consisted of fossil fuel promotion while advocating for market-driven solutions. Trump’s policies so far have contributed further to environmental degradation in the U.S.
Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement both times he has been in office. Trump’s “Drill baby drill” agenda demands that more oil and gas be extracted in the U.S. to promote independent energy. Trump also displayed his support for fossil fuels when he revoked Obama-era methane emission regulations, which were meant to cut methane emissions nearly in half by 2025. These actions will have detrimental effects on the U.S. environment as they will cause an increase in not only climate change, but also habitat loss and pollution.
Under the Trump administration, policies have been implemented to reduce the implementation of renewable energy sources, such as windmills and solar power, which were promoted under the Biden administration, in favor of traditional fossil fuels, which have negative environmental impacts. His justification is that deregulation will boost economic growth and job creation.
However, it is important to recognize that employment can be negatively affected by climate change. Agriculture, fishing and tourism industries can face significant repercussions, leading to economic instability. Also, extreme weather and bad air conditions caused by climate change can negatively affect worker health and productivity.
In terms of what we as American citizens can do to influence the government, Mrs. Reilly emphasized, “Gen Z seems to be most concerned with climate change and takes part in activism that aligns with environmental policies. However Gen Z needs to remember that they need to show up and vote and make sure that they vote for representatives that will represent their interests as their political appointees.”
Adding on to what we can do to make an impact, Gabby Gulini (11) shared, “Public opinion means everything. The only way to produce effective climate-conscious legislation is to pressure representatives. The more that people are educated on climate change, the more pressure can be placed on legislatures. Therefore, I think the only way to encourage effective climate policies is to get more people educated and involved in the climate activism space.”
The Trump administration has revoked over 125 environmental regulations. These include policies that limit emissions from power plants and vehicles, they aim to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. However, this only increases the burden of what will become irreversible effects on the environment which will plague future generations.
One can argue that Trump has expressed concern for the environment through support for carbon-capture research and the Trillion Trees Initiative. Although these actions may be somewhat beneficial, they do not offset the damage done by deregulation and continued use of fossil fuels.
The Republican Party has mainly relied on market-driven solutions to combat the problem, such as carbon capture and nuclear energy. This can be an effective way to reduce air pollution. Although it is reasonable to argue that the Trump administration should abide by market-driven solutions and implement renewable energy sources. These solutions can effectively work in tandem to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
With the world experiencing record-breaking levels of carbon emissions and increasingly concerning environmental disasters, it is clear that bipartisan consensus, public protest and getting involved politically are crucial to effectively protect future generations from irreversible damage.
