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Trump’s return puts the climate economy on defense

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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 HEATMAP or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Donald Trump's likely return to the White House threatens recent climate policies, especially the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with his agenda expected to target environmental rollbacks
Trump aims to rescind unspent IRA funds and weaken EPA standards for power plants and vehicles
The clean energy sector may face a defensive period as Trump reopens fossil fuel expansion and exits climate commitments

🔭 The context: Trump's first term saw significant climate deregulation, and his second could follow suit but under different global pressures
The IRA, designed to embed climate incentives across U.S. communities, has heavily invested in Republican regions, creating economic ties Trump might challenge
Meanwhile, China’s dominance in clean tech underscores the geopolitical stakes of any U.S. climate retreat

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: A weakened U.S. climate stance could hinder global progress on emissions while ceding leadership to China in clean technologies
U.S. policies like the IRA are seen as critical to counteracting climate impacts and fostering renewable industries
Pullbacks could disrupt supply chains, tech investments, and climate goals worldwide

⏭️ What's next: Trump’s team may push regulatory impoundment to pause IRA spending, raising legal debates and affecting new clean energy ventures
His alliances—spanning from Elon Musk to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—show tensions within his circle on climate and energy, adding uncertainty over how far changes might go
Congress’s composition will also shape how resilient the IRA remains

💬 One quote: “Trump has said that he wants to 'terminate' IRA spending,” noting his goal to “rescind all unspent funds” under the law

📈 One stat: Republican-leaning districts received three times as much IRA funding as Democrat-supporting ones in 2020

Click for more news covering the latest on ethical governance

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