In a speech on Monday, Donald Trump bragged about what he calls his successful environmental policies, but he didn’t utter the phrase “climate change” a single time.
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Trump instead decided to focus his speech heavily on how good he’s been for the fossil fuel industry, which is true. As I noted last year, Trump anti-environment policies have benefitted his buddies in the energy sector to the tune of nearly $500 million.
“For years politicians told Americans that a strong economy and vibrant energy sector were incompatible with a healthy environment, that one thing doesn’t go with the other,” the president said. “And that’s wrong.”
“We’re unlocking American energy and the United States is now a net exporter of clean, reliable American gas,” he added. “Today the U.S. is ranked number one in the world for access to clean drinking water.”
The president also attacked former president Barack Obama’s policies, saying, “The previous administration waged a relentless war on energy. We can’t do that.”
In other words, Trump’s speech was less about the environment and more about how great the energy sector has done under his watch – with a small side of attacks on his predecessor.
Trump has been a disaster for the environment
Set aside the fact that Donald Trump has admitted that he doesn’t believe climate change is real. Instead, he believes it’s a hoax manufactured by the Chinese.
Forget the fact that Trump has repeatedly tweeted during his presidency that cold weather is proof that there is no climate change. When it gets too cold in certain parts of the country, he ha openly asked for climate change to warm things up.
While his rhetoric has been nothing short of embarrassing, it’s his policies that have been the most damaging.
As The Hill noted on Monday, “Trump has rolled back EPA regulations on methane, replaced an Obama-era rule regulating power plants emissions and suggested weakening vehicle fuel standards. He has also proposed easing a major Obama-era rule protecting waterways.”
Not to mention, Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord – making the U.S. the only country not part of the agreement. That includes Syria.
It’s fine if Donald Trump wants to blather on about how good he’s been for big polluters and fossil fuel companies, but his real record on the environment has been nothing short of a disaster.
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Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
