Zero: The Climate Race To understand Trump's climate moves in his second term, look to the Reagan years
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Jan 23, 2025 Paul Sabin, a Yale historian specializing in oil and environmentalism, dives into the parallels between Trump's potential second term and the Reagan years. He highlights how Trump's aggressive push for fossil fuels mirrors Reagan's deregulation stance. The discussion touches on past environmental activism and its implications for future climate policies. Jonathan Lash also shares his feelings of déjà vu, reflecting on the cyclical nature of U.S. climate politics. The conversation unwraps the complexities of energy transitions amidst political turmoil.
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Energy Transition's Political Nature
- The energy and climate space is both political and economic, not just subject to economic forces.
- Policy and legal structures significantly impact the development of renewables and energy transitions.
Biden-Carter Parallels
- Biden, like Carter, faces potential policy reversals by a successor administration.
- Both presidents issued numerous 'midnight regulations' to safeguard their agendas before leaving office.
Reagan's Interior Department
- Reagan's appointment of James Watt, like Trump's potential appointments, signaled a shift towards resource extraction.
- Watt aimed to quickly change the Interior Department, leading to a backlash and limited success.
