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The US is about to make a sharp turn on climate policy

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on MIT Technology Review or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Donald Trump has been elected to a second term as U.S. President, signaling a major shift in the country’s climate policy and expected rollbacks on many of President Biden’s climate-focused initiatives, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and international agreements

🔭 The context: Under Biden, the U.S. rejoined the Paris Agreement and aimed for a 50% emissions reduction by 2030, supported by large investments in clean energy through the IRA and other legislation
Trump's return is expected to alter this trajectory by reversing key climate policies, potentially withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, and reducing support for electric vehicle (EV) initiatives

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The projected policy shifts under Trump could add 4 billion metric tons of CO₂ emissions by 2030, undermining global targets to limit warming to 1.5 °C and potentially derailing significant climate progress made by the U.S. over the past four years

⏭️ What's next: The extent of Trump’s policy changes will hinge on Congressional control, with Republican wins potentially enabling broad reversals
Global climate talks are likely to experience increased friction, especially with the U.S. signaling a retreat from international commitments

💬 One quote: "A Trump presidency could add 4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere by 2030," according to a recent Carbon Brief analysis

📈 One stat: Biden aimed for a 50% emissions cut by 2030; Trump’s policies could result in only a 28% reduction.

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