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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Financial Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president has begun with plans to roll back key climate policies, including halting new offshore wind projects and withdrawing from the Paris Agreement
• Despite these efforts, experts argue that broader economic and technological trends may continue to drive emissions reductions, though at a slower pace
• The rollback threatens the U.S.’s progress on meeting its 2030 emissions reduction target
🔭 The context: U.S. emissions have been declining since 2007 due to the shift from coal to natural gas and renewables, as well as economic factors like recessions in 2009 and 2020
• Biden’s policies aimed to accelerate this transition, but Trump’s policies, such as reducing support for offshore wind and EV tax credits, could slow progress
• Rising electricity demand from AI and hotter summers complicates efforts to cut emissions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Climate inaction or rollback in the U.S.—the world’s second-largest emitter—risks global warming surpassing critical thresholds, increasing the frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters
• Delayed progress will make future emissions cuts more costly and challenging
⏭️ What's next: Analysts expect slower adoption of EVs and renewables under Trump’s policies, with offshore wind projections for 2030 reduced by 29%
• Federal climate policy stagnation will increase pressure on states, cities, and the private sector to drive decarbonization
💬 One quote: “Even if you have people buying electric vehicles or heat pumps, it takes a long time for that to accumulate into meaningful changes in emissions.” – Noah Kaufman, Columbia University
📈 One stat: U.S. greenhouse gas emissions dropped just 0.2% in 2024, far short of the annual 7.6% reduction needed to meet 2030 targets
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