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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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