It’s 80 degrees in November and America has just re-elected someone for the presidency who doesn’t believe in climate change.

Donald Trump views global warming as a “scam,” despite clear evidence of rising temperatures and severe weather across the planet.  

Just last year, the United States signed a global agreement to transition away from fossil fuels in acknowledging its damage to the environment.  Completely contradicting this action, Trump expressed the day after winning the election that the US will increase oil production beyond record levels.  “We have more liquid gold than any other country in the world… More than Saudi Arabia.  We have more than Russia,” stated Trump, according to The New York Times.  He has already won major financial support from the oil and gas industry to pursue this policy.  

The consequences of mass oil and gas production are described by experts to have multiple impacts on the environment.  As stated by the World Wildlife Fund, such operations release tons of harmful pollutants into both the atmosphere and the water, leading to a significant decrease in clean air and water.  These fossil fuels being released into the air create a blanket across the earth, trapping high levels of heat.  

In addition to wanting to implement increased oil production, Trump plans to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, initiated in 2022.  The main purpose of this act is to drive money toward electric vehicles, batteries, and clean energy technology.  Gina McCarthy, President Biden’s former climate advisor, has expressed that any attempt to overturn the Inflation Reduction Act is “a fool’s errand.”  

Despite fear and concern arising over the future of the climate, many experts are refusing to look at the downside.  McCarthy further stated that “‘no matter what Trump may say, the shift to clean energy is unstoppable and our country is not turning back.”  Al Gore, former vice president under Bill Clinton, advocated for climate experts to continue their fight saying “‘we have won major victories in tackling the climate crisis and reducing climate pollution in our country, and we will again’”.

For many communities across the country, it’s extremely difficult to not feel devastated after the outcome of this election.  However, continuing to advocate for what is right, especially for the earth that we live on, is the best way to remain persistent in times of setbacks.