The Forgotten Issue
Author: Greg Valliere
July 17, 2024
THE TEMPERATURE IN WASHINGTON D.C. hit an incredible 104 degrees (40 degrees Celsius) yesterday, the third straight day above 100 degrees. Meanwhile, much of downtown Toronto was shut down by a ferocious deluge that cut power to much of the city.
YET IN MILWAUKEE, there was virtually no mention of climate change. In fact, Republicans are preparing to kill environmental rules and gut funding for the Environmental Protection Administration. With the GOP seemingly headed for an election romp, the environment has faded as a major issue; even the Biden Administration has ramped up oil exploration and drilling as U.S. energy exports surge.
THE SHIFT IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE was described in a detailed article in this morning’s New York Times, which concludes that Donald Trump will be in a far better position than he was in his first term to dismantle environmental and climate rules. In a second term, Trump would be aided by more sympathetic judges and conservative allies who are already mapping out ways to bend federal agencies to the president’s will, the Times says.
TRUMP HAS PROMISED to repeal federal regulations designed to cut greenhouse gas pollution that is rapidly heating the planet. Many of his allies want to go further. They are drafting plans to slash funding for EPA, oust career staffers, install loyalists in key offices and scale back the government’s powers to tackle climate change, regulate industries and restrict hazardous chemicals.
THESE GOALS WILL BE EASIER TO ACHIEVE in the wake of the Supreme Court’s sweeping ruling earlier this summer in the Chevron case, which will significantly curb the legal authority of the government to impose environmental rules on businesses. Biden is weighing court reforms — including term limits for judges — but chances are very slim that the House would approve such an initiative.
STILL ANOTHER ASSAULT ON ENVIRONMENTAL REGS is a major feature of the transition plan known as Project 2025, spearheaded by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which would seek to overturn environmental rules, as we described earlier this month. Proponents say that strict rules have curbed economic growth but opponents contend that fierce heat waves and fires also curb growth.
IN RECENT YEARS young people could be counted on to strongly support legislation designed to curb climate change, but pols show a lack of enthusiasm by young people, in the wake of Biden’s increased drilling in Alaska.
TRUMP’S ENERGY MANTRA is “Drill Baby, Drill” even though gasoline prices are lower than a year ago. The environmental movement is in a deep slump, with radical changes likely to boost energy producers. It’s virtually certain that this year will be the hottest in recorded history, with more to come.
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