On the first day of his presidency, US President Donald Trump took swift and decisive action to prioritise American energy production and dismantle the environmental policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden.
In a series of executive orders, President Trump sought to unleash the nation’s vast oil and gas reserves, aiming to elevate domestic production to unprecedented levels.
This move signaled a stark departure from the Biden administration’s focus on combating climate change and transitioning towards renewable energy sources.
Trump’s agenda emphasized energy independence and economic growth, with the belief that expanding fossil fuel production would create jobs and bolster the American economy.
However, this approach drew sharp criticism from environmentalists and scientists who warned of the devastating consequences of increased greenhouse gas emissions and the urgent need to address the global climate crisis.
Following are some of the key decisions:
Trump declares energy emergency
President Trump declared a national energy emergency, granting him the authority to expedite energy infrastructure projects by easing environmental restrictions and streamlining the permitting process for new transmission and pipeline infrastructure.
“It allows you to do whatever you’ve got to do to get ahead of that problem,” Trump was quoted in a report by Reuters.
And we do have that kind of an emergency.
He attributed the inflation crisis to excessive spending and rising energy prices, which prompted him to declare a national energy emergency, according to the report. Trump also vowed to increase drilling to address the crisis.
Withdrawal from Paris Agreement
In a move that drew criticism from environmentalists and world leaders, President Trump officially withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement.
This international accord, signed by nearly every nation in 2015, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the effects of climate change.
Trump had previously announced his intention to withdraw during his first term, citing concerns about the agreement’s potential economic impact on the US and arguing that it unfairly burdened American businesses.
The withdrawal, which took effect in 2020, marked a significant setback for global efforts to address climate change and isolated the US from the international community on this critical issue.
Reuters quoted Trump:
I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip off. The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.
Policy on EV
In a move that signifies a stark contrast in policy directions, President Trump revoked a 2021 executive order implemented by Biden.
This executive order had set an ambitious target of ensuring that 50% of all new vehicle sales in the US would be electric by 2030.
While not legally binding, Biden’s 50% target had garnered significant support from both domestic and foreign automakers.
The Trump administration’s decision potentially signals a shift away from promoting electric vehicles and could impact the trajectory of the automotive industry and the broader energy landscape.
Reversing Biden era decisions
In a move to bolster domestic energy production and reverse the policies of his predecessor, Trump signed an executive order that effectively nullified Biden’s attempts to restrict oil and gas drilling in environmentally sensitive areas.
The executive order specifically targeted Biden’s initiatives to halt oil exploration in the Arctic and along vast stretches of the US coastline.
Furthermore, the Trump administration revoked a 2023 presidential memorandum that had placed a moratorium on oil drilling activities across approximately 16 million acres in the Arctic region.
Earlier this month, ahead of Trump taking office, Biden prohibited new offshore oil and gas development along the majority of US coastlines.
Former US President Joe Biden had placed a pause on processing export permit applications from new liquefied natural gas projects to Asia and Europe in early 2024 to study the environmental and economic effects.
Trump on his first day, reversed this pause with an order to resume processing the applications.
The US is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas and in 2023 had set a record figure for exports.
Refilling of reserves
Trump on his inauguration day also vowed to refill strategic reserves “right to the top”.
Trump was likely referring to the US’ Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) that stores crude oil.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Biden administration had authorised the sale of 180 million barrels of crude oil from the SPR, which was a record amount.
Trump said:
We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top, and export American energy all over the world.
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