What Happened to Climate Change Efforts in 2025?
In 2025, the United States experienced a dramatic shift in climate change efforts. After years of progress, the new administration under President Donald Trump swiftly dismantled many environmental policies. This reversal was so pronounced that it earned a name: greenlash—a backlash against emissions-reducing efforts.
Key Actions and Consequences
- Rolling back environmental protections
- Canceling climate research
- Promoting fossil fuels while other nations invested in renewable energy
- "Climate change" became a politically sensitive term
- Phrases like "clean energy" and "climate science" disappeared from government websites
A Global Trend
The greenlash wasn’t confined to the U.S. Europe also saw resistance, particularly in Germany, where opposition arose against switching to energy-efficient heat pumps due to cost concerns. In the U.S., the backlash was fueled by populism and culture wars.
Public Concern vs. Political Shift
Despite the political shift, many Americans remained worried about climate change. Extreme weather events—such as fires in Los Angeles and floods in Texas—highlighted the growing impact. However, political and media focus on climate issues decreased.
New Terms Enter the Lexicon
- "Carbon pawprint" – The environmental impact of pets, especially their meat-heavy diets.
- "Rain anxiety" – The fear and stress people feel when it rains, particularly after experiencing floods.
Political Strategies and Slogans
- Democrats reframed climate policies as a way to lower energy costs, introducing the "Cheap Energy Agenda" to appeal to affordability-focused voters.
- The Trump administration focused on securing "critical minerals" essential for technology and renewable energy.
- "Energy dominance" was used to emphasize fossil fuel production as a means of gaining leverage over other countries.
- The term "Green New Scam" was coined to attack climate policies, rebranding the "Green New Deal" as a conspiracy.
