Drill, Baby, Drill: Four Years Backwards on Climate Action in the U.S.

When Donald Trump took the oath of office in January 2017, his administration swiftly embarked on a journey that drastically altered America's trajectory on climate action. The phrase "Drill, baby, drill"—originally a rallying cry of Republican energy policies—became more than a slogan; it defined a presidency that prioritized fossil fuel expansion over environmental protection. Over four years, the U.S. reversed decades of progress in combating climate change, rolled back critical regulations, and withdrew from international commitments, leaving a lasting impact on both national and global efforts to address the climate crisis.

The Great Deregulation Era

One of the defining features of Trump’s climate policy was the aggressive dismantling of environmental regulations. His administration, through executive orders and agency rollbacks, weakened over 100 environmental protections, according to reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various environmental watchdogs. The most significant among these were:

• The Paris Agreement Exit: In 2017, Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the landmark global climate accord, claiming it was unfair to American businesses. The move isolated the U.S. from global climate leadership and delayed crucial emissions reductions.
• The Clean Power Plan Repeal: The Obama-era initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions from power plants was replaced with the far weaker Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, which offered little to no substantive reductions in emissions.
• The Arctic and Offshore Drilling Expansion: Trump lifted bans on offshore drilling in the Arctic and other protected coastal regions, opening vast areas to fossil fuel exploitation despite strong opposition from environmentalists and coastal communities.
• Auto Emissions Rollback: The administration weakened fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, effectively allowing more greenhouse gas emissions and hindering progress in reducing transportation-related pollution.

A Boost for Fossil Fuels, a Blow to Renewable Energy

Trump's policies overwhelmingly favored the fossil fuel industry. The administration provided significant tax breaks and deregulation benefits to coal, oil, and natural gas companies, reversing years of progress in reducing emissions. Simultaneously, federal support for renewable energy dwindled, with subsidies for wind and solar facing cuts and research funding for clean energy initiatives stagnating.

The result? The U.S. experienced a temporary resurgence in fossil fuel production, with increased drilling and fracking leading to record levels of oil and gas output. However, this short-term economic gain came at the cost of worsening climate indicators, including rising emissions and deteriorating air and water quality.

Global Impact and Repercussions

The Trump administration’s climate policies had ramifications beyond the U.S. With the world's largest economy scaling back its commitments, other nations found it harder to justify their own ambitious climate targets. The lack of U.S. leadership in climate negotiations slowed progress on international agreements, and developing countries, which often look to the U.S. for direction, faced greater difficulties securing climate finance and support for sustainable energy transitions.

Furthermore, the administration's disregard for scientific consensus on climate change emboldened climate skeptics worldwide, reinforcing misinformation and slowing public policy advancements in numerous countries.

Reversing the Damage: A Long Road Ahead

The election of President Joe Biden in 2020 marked a significant shift in climate policy, with the U.S. rejoining the Paris Agreement and setting ambitious climate goals. However, undoing four years of climate regression has proven challenging. Many of Trump’s deregulatory measures created legal and bureaucratic obstacles that take years to reverse. Additionally, the politicization of climate policy during the Trump era deepened partisan divides, making future legislative action on climate change more contentious than ever.

A Second Act: Trump’s Return and Renewed Climate Battles

On January 20, 2025, during his second swearing-in ceremony, Trump once again proclaimed "Drill, baby, drill," signaling a renewed push for aggressive fossil fuel expansion. This declaration suggests that the next four years will likely mirror, if not intensify, the environmental rollbacks of his first term. With global temperatures continuing to rise and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, this return to pro-fossil fuel policies could further exacerbate climate-related disasters.

The implications of another Trump administration on climate action are profound. The U.S. could see:

• A new wave of deregulation, with even fewer environmental safeguards in place.
• An increased focus on domestic oil and gas production, possibly at the expense of public lands and protected areas.
• A weakened stance in global climate agreements, reducing international cooperation on emission reductions.
• Further setbacks for renewable energy, making it harder for the U.S. to transition to a low-carbon economy.

Given these potential developments, climate advocates must prepare for renewed legal battles, grassroots mobilization, and alternative strategies to mitigate the damage. The next four years will determine whether the U.S. cements its role as a climate laggard or whether states, businesses, and activists can counterbalance federal inaction to keep climate progress alive.

Lessons from the "Drill, Baby, Drill" Years

Trump’s presidency underscored the fragility of climate progress and the power of executive authority in shaping environmental policy. It demonstrated how quickly a nation could backslide on climate commitments and the dire consequences of prioritizing short-term economic gains over long-term planetary health. The lesson for climate advocates is clear: institutional safeguards, legislative protections, and sustained public engagement are crucial to ensuring that climate progress remains resilient against political shifts.

As the world grapples with escalating climate disasters, the legacy of Trump's climate policies serves as a stark reminder of the cost of inaction. The future of the planet depends on learning from this period and ensuring that "Drill, baby, drill" remains a cautionary tale rather than a guiding principle for energy policy.

By Victor Orie Ononogbu