Minutes into his second term, President Donald Trump declared a “national energy emergency” and said he would bring forth a “golden age” of domestic affordability and global dominance.
Though largely symbolic, the move was an especially bitter pill for climate advocates.
Not only do they dispute the need for an energy emergency — as U.S. oil and gas production has thrived the past several years — but Trump’s Day 1 decision comes after activists failed for four years to convince former President Joe Biden to declare a similar emergency for climate change.
Collin Rees, U.S. program manager for the activist group Oil Change International, said Trump’s quick turnaround shows he understands the political potency of an emergency declaration.