Presidential Climate Policy Report Card: Biden vs. Trump — A CleanTechnica Exclusive

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The US is approaching an election which shall be pivotal for local weather motion, each domestically and globally. Over the previous a number of days, CleanTechnica has been working a collection on a number of main areas of coverage, assessing the political actions again to George W. Bush’ Presidency. Now it’s time to attract up the report card for the candidates and their platforms as they presently exist.

The distinction is, in fact, stark. Whereas not excellent, the Biden–Harris administration have delivered monumental motion on local weather motion, whereas Trump’s first time period and guarantees are a sea of purple, a tsunami of local weather motion failure. To be clear, that was true of most information underneath Trump from any goal perspective, whether or not it was the financial system, response to the worldwide pandemic, worldwide relations or human rights.

Treaties & Agreements

Throughout the Obama administration, the US performed a key position within the 2015 Paris Settlement and the Kigali Modification, addressing local weather change and refrigerants. Nonetheless, the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Accord and stalled the Kigali Modification, leaving China to fill the management hole. They did cross the AIM Act for HFC buying and selling.

Full assessment article on treaties and agreements is here.

The Biden–Harris administration rejoined the Paris Settlement and launched the World Methane Pledge at COP26. They ratified the Kigali Modification in 2022 and introduced local weather adaptation initiatives at COP27. Efforts to collaborate with China have confronted challenges, particularly with tariffs on Chinese language EVs.

The US helps the IMO’s zero-emission transport objectives and the US–India Local weather Partnership. Regardless of Biden’s local weather finance objectives, fossil gas subsidies stay excessive, surpassing navy spending. The administration succeeded in implementing a methane emissions worth and strengthening HFC buying and selling laws.

Trump plans to withdraw from the Paris Accord once more and eradicate the methane worth, although he hasn’t dedicated to exiting the Kigali Modification.

Electrical Technology

US electrical technology tendencies differ from the claims of each Biden and Trump. Regardless of Trump’s anti-renewable stance and regulatory rollbacks, wind and photo voltaic tax credit had been prolonged, and their progress has been sluggish however regular. Whole electrical technology has been flat since 2000, with fossil gas demand rising.

Full assessment article on electrical generation decarbonization is here.

The Biden–Harris administration goals to spice up renewables by the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, concentrating on 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and a carbon-free energy sector by 2035. Nonetheless, tariffs on Chinese language photo voltaic panels and potential tariffs on wind generators might enhance prices and sluggish progress.

US protectionism might result in increased renewable vitality prices in comparison with cheaper Chinese language merchandise, limiting US competitiveness within the world market. Pure gasoline and methane leakage stay important points. Whereas Biden’s insurance policies assist renewables, Trump plans to chop these incentives, favoring coal and gasoline, which might additional hinder renewable progress.

Transportation

Transportation is now the highest supply of US greenhouse gasoline emissions, making up 29% of the entire. Gentle-duty automobiles account for 57% of those emissions, and medium- and heavy-duty vans add 26%. The US lags in adopting electrical automobiles in comparison with different areas.

Full assessment article on transportation decarbonization is here.

The Biden–Harris administration goals to handle this however faces important challenges resulting from post-World Warfare II city sprawl and a heavy reliance on vehicles. The US rail system, prioritizing freight over passengers, and an unlimited freeway community additional complicate efforts to shift to lower-carbon transportation modes.

The transportation blueprint promotes electrical automobiles and different fuels, but it doesn’t successfully sort out the historic points. Electrical automobiles, pushed by technological developments, present promise, however affordability is a barrier resulting from financial inequality.

Efforts embody increasing EV charging infrastructure with $7.5 billion allotted for 500,000 chargers by 2030. Nonetheless, protectionist insurance policies and restricted incentives for electrical freight vans might sluggish progress.

Trump’s marketing campaign plans to roll again many of those initiatives. Whereas Biden’s efforts are underway, important historic and structural challenges have to be addressed to efficiently decarbonize transportation.

Land Use

Land use insurance policies are key to lowering greenhouse gasoline emissions and growing group resilience. Compact city planning cuts transportation emissions, whereas defending forests and sustainable agriculture improve carbon sequestration. Zoning laws in high-risk areas and inexperienced infrastructure in cities cut back vulnerability to excessive climate.

Full assessment article on land use and climate is here.

The Biden–Harris administration goals to plant over a billion timber, restore ecosystems, and allocate over $3 billion for climate-smart agricultural practices. A moratorium on new oil and gasoline leasing aligns with their emission discount objectives, and practically 29 gigawatts of fresh vitality initiatives have been accredited. The American Local weather Corps mobilizes younger People for local weather careers, and coastal resilience efforts give attention to restoring pure defenses and managing retreat from high-risk areas.

Trump’s administration rolled again many land use insurance policies, promoted oil exploration, and he plans to take away the leasing moratorium and push for extra rural single-family zoning in 2024.

Trade

4 years in the past, federal motion on industrial local weather points appeared unlikely. The Biden-Harris platform centered on ratifying the Kigali Modification and Paris Accord, with little probability of a carbon worth.

Full assessment article on industrial decarbonization is here.

Efforts to introduce a carbon worth had been blocked, however a methane leakage worth was launched, beginning at $900 per ton in 2024. The Biden–Harris administration additionally carried out strict laws to chop methane emissions by 74% from 2005 ranges by 2035.

The administration restored EPA funding, reversing Trump’s cuts, and appointed Michael S. Regan as EPA Administrator. The Inflation Discount Act (IRA) consists of tax credit for clear vitality applied sciences and low-carbon supplies, excluding fossil fuels.

The US leads in utilizing electrical arc furnaces (EAF) for metal manufacturing. The IRA incentivizes absolutely electrifying these furnaces and helps carbon seize and storage.

Regardless of Biden’s efforts, US fossil gas exports have elevated, with the US now exporting extra oil and considerably extra pure gasoline. Whereas coal use in electrical energy technology has decreased, coal exports proceed.

Trump’s administration weakened the EPA and rolled again environmental laws however handed the AIM Act to cut back HFC refrigerants. His 2024 marketing campaign guarantees additional deregulation. Regardless of its flaws, the Biden–Harris administration’s local weather insurance policies are an enchancment.

Navy

The US navy makes use of 80% of the federal authorities’s vitality, making it one of many largest fossil gas shoppers globally. Obama’s local weather achievements included withdrawing 230,000 troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and becoming a member of the Paris Settlement, which allowed voluntary navy emission reporting.

Full assessment article on military decarbonization is here.

Trump withdrew from the Paris Settlement, however Biden rejoined, reinstating these provisions. In 2021, the Division of Protection reported 51 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equal emissions, primarily from jet gas. This accounted for 76% of whole federal emissions and 1% of US emissions. For context, these emissions are increased than a full three quarters of nations globally.

Biden goals for net-zero navy emissions by 2050, with a 65% discount by 2030. Plans embody zero-emission automobiles by 2035 and carbon-free electrical energy. Federal procurement now requires contractors to reveal emissions and set discount targets, selling low-carbon supplies.

The navy’s huge buying energy makes its shift to low-carbon choices important. Regardless of efforts to decarbonize, the navy stays a major local weather problem resulting from its dimension. Lowering its scale might decrease emissions. Biden’s insurance policies supply a extra sustainable strategy in comparison with Trump’s which favors each elevated personnel and large home deployment to the southern border.