The Clean Power Plan, announced by President Obama and the United States Environmental Protection Agency in August of 2015, limits carbon pollution from power plants, the country’s largest source, but also maintains sustainability, reliability, and affordability due to the fact that each state has “customized goals to cut the carbon pollution that is driving climate change.” The Clean Power Plan was “Obama’s signature program to deal with climate change.” And it’s about to be repealed by Trump through (shocker) an executive order taking action this Tuesday.
The repeal of this act is part of Trump’s “America First Energy Plan,” and simply a part of a larger problem – Mr. Trump refuses to believe that climate change exists, stating that “it’s a very complex subject” and that he “doubt[s] anybody is ever going to really know.” Instead of looking at the facts – over 97% of scientists agree on a general consensus that climate change is not only real, but primarily caused by human activity – Mr. Trump stated that “They say we have science on one side but then they also have these horrible emails that were sent between the scientists.”
It’s alarming that the president of the United States refuses to accept science and instead resorts to unsubstantiated and profligate claims to back his own opinions.
Not only does the current Clean Power Plan regulate the amount of fossil fuel emissions in the United States, it also sends a clear message to other countries – including those of the Paris Climate Deal of 2015, a large factor in the CPP – that the United States is committed to preventing further climate change and maintaining sustainability. By rolling back on the plan, Trump is also rolling back the message this country has projected regarding science itself. Instead, Trump’s new America First Energy Plan is focused on “maximizing the use of American resources” – also known as committing to the use of fossil fuels, especially coal, oil, and natural gas.
Not only does Trump’s repeal of the Clean Power Plan and implementation of his new energy plan completely subvert Obama’s administration’s previous actions, it will also make curbing climate change more difficult than ever.
