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Hi all—Emily here. Two weeks after the election, I’m still processing what a second Trump terms means for HEATED and climate journalism in general, and how I want to approach these next four years.
But one thing I do know: it’s necessary to keep going. An article in The Conversation today reads: “Donald Trump’s second term promises to deliver historic threats to US press freedom.” This dude just really doesn’t like the truth—especially the truth about climate change, as you’ll see today. So if you value our efforts, and have the means to support it, I hope you’ll consider becoming a subscriber. Let’s keep the truth flowing.
Trump's entire Cabinet misrepresents climate change
I analyzed the public statements of each nominee. It was awful. (Though Matt Gaetz was surprising?)
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Dismissing the threat of global climate change may be a prerequisite for a position in Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
Every person the president-elect has chosen to lead an executive department of the U.S. government has downplayed or misrepresented the climate crisis in some way, according to HEATED’s analysis of each nominee’s public statements.
HEATED considers accepting the full reality of climate change as acknowledging five scientific truths. They are:
That climate change is real;
That climate change is a serious, existential threat;
That climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions;
That greenhouse gas emissions are driven primarily by fossil fuels; and
That solving climate change requires transitioning away from fossil fuels.
These statements are all derived from reports published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a conservative scientific body made up of thousands of experts from around the world. Its annual reports represent the consolidation of more than 15,000 peer-reviewed papers by a task force of more than 200 climate scientists, and must be approved by 195 countries’ governments before they’re released.
Some of Trump’s selections for Cabinet-level positions used to accept all five of these statements, but have shifted their positions in recent years. Others are full-blown climate conspiracy theorists. The latter are generally the people selected to lead environment- and energy-focused agencies. But every Cabinet-level position involves addressing the climate crisis in some way.
The Constitution requires the Senate to confirm each of these nominations. However, Trump is reportedly considering using a loophole to allow his nominees to serve without Senate confirmation.
Here are Trump’s picks, followed by their public statements on climate change, and the role they would have in addressing the problem if confirmed.
Chris Wright, Energy secretary
Wright, the CEO of a fracking services company, does not accept the reality of climate change. “There is no climate crisis,” Wright said in a LinkedIn video last year. “And we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”
It is possible Wright is simply repeating what he wants and needs to be true instead of what he actually believes. Hell, if I were a fossil fuel executive, I’d also want the energy transition not to be happening. It’s called manifesting!
In all seriousness, this is one of Trump’s most concerning nominations. The Department of Energy plays a critical role in transitioning the U.S. energy system to renewable sources; reducing the climate impact of the energy sector; and researching clean energy technology.
Marco Rubio, secretary of State
Rubio admits that “climate change is a real problem,” but denies that greenhouse gases are the primary cause.
In a debate last year, Rubio was “unwilling to explicitly state that carbon emissions from human activity are causing climate change,” Politico Pro reported. Rubio also denies that the solution to climate change involves reducing fossil fuel use; in a 2019 op-ed, Rubio wrote that humans can simply adapt to sea level rise and worsening extreme weather.
The Secretary of State is crucial to addressing climate change on a global scale. They are responsible for leading U.S. involvement in the Paris Agreement; coordinating U.S. funding for climate adaptation in developing countries; and integrating climate concerns i