TL/DR –
The article discusses the varying progress in combating climate change in the U.S., which is largely dependent on the policies of the sitting president. It traces the U.S.’s engagement with the issue from the 1960s to present day, highlighting key moments such as the signing and withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and significant legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of worldwide public demand for action, the potential for reversal with concerted effort, and the vital role the U.S. can play due to its industrial and social influence.
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US Climate Change Efforts: A Stop and Go Journey
Imagine a car journey beset by frequent red lights and starts, sometimes cruising smoothly and other times coming to a complete halt. This encapsulates the U.S.’s progress in tackling climate change, each phase determined largely by the incumbent president’s stance on the issue.
Environmental consciousness and recognition of human-induced climate change began to germinate in the 1960s and 1970s, but saw little in the form of policy change. However, the 1980s marked a turning point as scientific consensus built around the issue and caught the attention of policymakers. The ensuing decade saw President H.W. Bush sign the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, followed by President Bill Clinton’s endorsement of the Kyoto Protocol. However, the U.S. Senate refused to ratify the latter.
The new millennium brought with it increased political polarization. Despite this, the period between 2009 and 2016 was characterized by robust federal engagement under the Obama administration, a commitment that was subsequently rolled back under President Trump. Crucially, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.
Fast forward to 2021 and the U.S. returned to the Paris Agreement under President Biden’s administration. Furthermore, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 marked the most significant climate investment in U.S. history, allocating $369 billion to clean energy, electric vehicle incentives, and methane reduction. This progress, however, was cut short when President Trump, upon reassuming office in January 2021, pulled out of the Paris Agreement for the second time and the “One Big Beautiful Bill” curtailed the funding provided under the Inflation Reduction Act.
On a global scale, progress on climate change is fundamentally tied to countries’ adherence to the Paris Agreement. This pact, adopted by almost every country in the world (including the U.S.) in 2015, aims to significantly curb greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to limit the global temperature rise this century to 2° C (3.6° F). In an ideal scenario, efforts would be made to restrict the temperature increase to 1.5° C (2.7° F).
However, as it stands, the collective commitments and pledges made by nations are projected to result in a temperature rise of 2.5°-2.9°C. In 2024, the world recorded its first full year where the annual temperature increase surpassed 1.5°C. Predictive modeling suggests that we have entered a two-decade phase where average temperatures will consistently exceed a 1.5°C increase.
Without increased public demand for action and changes across government and economic sectors, the future appears bleak. However, there remains time to change course and reenter the fight against climate change. The U.S., with its industrial and social influence, holds tremendous potential as a force for good, a key player upon whom future generations are pinning their hopes.
Tony Hays, an expert who has been part of aircraft design and operations in various countries since 1962, currently imparts knowledge on aircraft design in Asia, with an emphasis on reducing carbon emissions. He is a member of the South Orange County Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Education.
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