Countdown to 2030: Trump’s climate crisis
The White House might be able to handle four more years of Trump, but can the climate? Last time Trump was in office, his administration rolled back over 100 environmental rules and his win is predicted to add 4 billion tons of carbon emissions to the environment by 2030. Trump has not only promised to delete climate change policy and publicly called global warming a “scam”, but has also advocated for fracking in national parks and encouraged excess drilling and burning of oil and gas.
Art by Kayman Mangan, Art Editor
Trump’s environmental choices were already met with controversy in his first term by denouncing the Paris Agreement. This was an international, legally-binding agreement negotiated across 196 countries at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. This agreement stated that the countries involved would work together to decrease their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
California, however, is the most environmentally friendly state in the U.S. according to Travel + Leisure. Legislators and California governor Gavin Newsom have signed numerous bills to accelerate the path to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. So how will a president - who is actively furthering our climate troubles - going to affect California’s efforts towards a greener future?
The election comes (unfortunately) at a crucial point in the fight against climate change. According to the New York Times, scientists say major economies must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent, from 2005 levels, by 2030 to abstain from a world where the severe effects of global warming are made increasingly aware. These will include famine and deaths from extreme storms and heat.
California voters showed their environmental drive when they supported and passed Prop. 4, a ballot initiative that will create a $10 billion “climate bond” that can be used towards future environmental projects. The bill will be able to use $1.5 billion towards wildfire resilience, which would include procedures such as controlled burns and thinning forests. This ballot was an essential step towards being more environmentally aware, as the resources made available by this bill are incredibly important in slowing down global warming impacts and moving forward sustainably. Katelyn Roedner Sutter, the state director of the Environmental Defense Fund, explained how important this bill is.
“This result demonstrates voters want California to be at the forefront of climate action because our health, lives, and livelihoods are at risk,” Sutter said.
California is a key state that is affected by global warming, from extreme heat in the valley to coastal flooding and erosion by the beaches. There have also been numerous destructive forest fires in the past few years. So much so that on Nov. 5, 2024, Malibu students were permitted from attending school as all power was shut off to prevent another forest fire.
It’s essential for our community to take protective measures for our environment, even if they’re just a few simple actions. You can start implementing eco-friendly products into your life, such as using disposable water bottles. There are also a variety of local volunteer opportunities, such as Heal the Bay or Team Marine, a club here at Samo. Make sure you stay up to date on climate news and do some research on sustainable practices that would be easy for you to incorporate into your daily life.
Our environment cannot and will not save itself. If we cannot protect our own Earth, nobody will. Now is the time to take action and recognize our role to not only protect our climate, but our futures. The fight against climate change is not merely a topic for political discourse, it is a matter of survival for our own lives and generations to come.
