Donald Trump’s Environmental Record: A Comprehensive Analysis

In 2017, Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

During his presidency, Donald Trump implemented numerous policies that had substantial impacts on environmental protections, climate change measures, and conservation efforts. Many of these policies drew significant criticism from environmental groups, scientists, and international leaders, as they often prioritized economic growth and deregulation over environmental preservation. In this article we examine the environmental record of the Trump administration, their consequences in US, and the global impact on environmental sustainability.

1. Climate Change Policies and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Deregulation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP)

The Obama-era Clean Power Plan aimed to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. In 2019, Trump replaced the CPP with the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, which provided states with more autonomy to set emissions limits for coal plants. Critics argued this weakened regulation would lead to increased emissions, as states no longer had to meet specific reduction targets.

Research indicated that the ACE rule could result in an increase in annual carbon emissions of up to 13 million metric tons compared to the CPP's targets, slowing down progress toward emission reduction goals.

Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement

In 2017, Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing that the accord disadvantaged American workers and industries. This move isolated the U.S. from global climate commitments and undermined international efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The U.S., one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, temporarily left the accord without being bound to specific emissions targets, impeding collective global climate progress. While the prevailing view among environmental policy researchers holds that developed countries should bear a larger financial responsibility in environmental treaties due to their historical role in causing environmental damage and extensive climate change, Trump argued that Obama’s $3 billion commitment to the Green Climate Fund was a sheer loss. U.S. withdrawal also signaled a reduction in global momentum toward climate action. Experts noted that this decision weakened the Agreement’s influence and potentially encouraged other nations to relax their commitments¹ . 

2. Fossil Fuel Industry Support and Drilling Expansions

Expansion of Drilling on Public Lands and Coastal Waters

Trump’s administration pursued policies that expanded oil and gas drilling across public lands and coastal waters. For instance, while politicians had spent decades vacillating between protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as one of the last unspoiled places on earth or plundering it for oil extraction, Trump issued an order to drill in the area and commence oil extraction operations. In 2017, the administration opened nearly 9 million acres of public lands and waters for leasing to energy companies².

Projected levels of increased oil production from ANWR to mean Alaskan production volumes

This expansion threatened sensitive ecosystems and endangered species habitats, including polar bear populations in ANWR. Additionally, drilling activities increased risks of oil spills and habitat destruction³.

By the end of Trump’s term, the Department of Interior had offered over 30 million acres of federal land for oil and gas leasing, a 60% increase from the previous administration.

Rollbacks of Methane Emissions Standards

The Trump administration rescinded several regulations aimed at reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations. These standards had previously required companies to capture and limit methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential approximately 28 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

Weakening methane regulations risked increasing emissions from the fossil fuel industry, with direct consequences for climate change acceleration. EPA analysis suggested that relaxed methane standards could lead to an increase in methane emissions by an estimated 400,000 tons annually, contributing significantly to climate change⁴.

3. Endangered Species and Wildlife Protections

Changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

In 2019, the Trump administration revised the Endangered Species Act, allowing economic factors to be considered in decisions about species protection and altering how "critical habitats" were defined. This change made it easier for industries to pursue developments in previously restricted areas.

Environmental groups argued that considering economic impacts weakened protections, particularly for species threatened by habitat loss and climate change.

Studies showed that nearly 500 endangered species in the U.S. could face increased risks of extinction under relaxed ESA protections, exacerbating biodiversity loss⁵.

Reduction of National Monument Protections

Trump ordered reductions in the sizes of several national monuments, most notably Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah. This opened vast areas of previously protected land to potential mining, logging, and drilling. The reduction in protections put numerous archaeological sites, ecosystems, and endangered species at risk due to increased industrial activity in these areas. 

The reduction in Bears Ears cut protected land by 85%, while Grand Staircase-Escalante was reduced by nearly 50%, marking the largest rollback of public land protections in U.S. history⁶.

The two mentioned regions were restored to their original designated sizes after the end of former President Donald Trump’s administration

4. Water and Air Quality Regulations

Rollback of Clean Water Rule

The Trump administration repealed the 2015 Clean Water Rule, which had expanded federal protections to smaller streams and wetlands critical to water quality. This change allowed more pollution from industries like agriculture and construction to reach water sources without stringent federal oversight.

Repeal of this rule threatened drinking water for millions of Americans and increased the risk of contamination in water bodies critical for ecosystems. According to an analysis by the EPA, approximately 18% of U.S. streams and wetlands lost federal protection, making them vulnerable to pollution and degradation⁷.

Guardian graphic. Source: US Environmental Protection Agency and “Recent increases in air pollution: evidence and implications for mortality,” by Karen Clay and Nicholas Z. Muller

Reduction in Fuel Efficiency Standards

In 2020, Trump rolled back Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, which required a 5% annual increase in fuel economy. The new rule reduced the target to a 1.5% increase, slowing the shift towards more fuel-efficient vehicles and prolonging dependence on fossil fuels.

The rollback is projected to lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, one of the largest contributors to carbon pollution in the U.S. The EPA estimated that this change could result in an additional 900 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2035, equivalent to the annual emissions of over 200 million cars.

5. Global Environmental Impact of Trump’s Policies

The Trump administration's actions had significant ripple effects on global environmental initiatives, influencing climate policy beyond U.S. borders.

By withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and promoting fossil fuel use, Trump weakened the global push towards a low-carbon future. Other nations, particularly emerging economies, may feel emboldened to prioritize economic growth over environmental protection.

On the other hand, Relaxed U.S. regulations contributed to increased emissions, slowing the global progress necessary to mitigate climate change effects. As the U.S. was responsible for approximately 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its policies had a notable impact on global emission trends.

Actions like reducing protections for endangered species and opening lands for resource extraction have global implications for biodiversity. Ecosystems, especially those in sensitive areas like the Arctic, affect global climate patterns and species diversity.

Conclusion

Donald Trump’s environmental record reflects a prioritization of economic and industrial interests over environmental and public health concerns. His administration's policies contributed to increased greenhouse gas emissions, weakened wildlife protections, and diminished air and water quality standards. The consequences of these actions have had lasting impacts on both the U.S. environment and global efforts to combat climate change. As other countries continue to strengthen environmental policies, Trump’s legacy highlights the critical need for consistent, science-based approaches to address climate and ecological crises.

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674927817300849?via%3Dihub
2. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/long-long-battle-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge
3. https://polarbearscience.com/2020/08/18/risk-to-alaskan-polar-bear-cubs-from-oil-exploration-in-coastal-wildlife-refuge-is-small/
4. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/13/epa-methane-rollback-climate-rules-429188
5. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/trump-administration-has-overhauled-endangered-species-act-180972890/
6. https://www.kuer.org/health-science-environment/2021-10-07/president-biden-set-to-restore-bears-ears-and-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monuments-to-original-sizes
7. https://www.science.org/content/article/epa-claims-no-data-impact-weakening-water-rule-numbers-exist