Trump 2.0 and Climate: The Risks You May Not Have Thought About Yet

Global Witness warns that a second Trump administration is likely to accelerate fossil fuel production, weaken protections for land and environmental defenders, and undermine global efforts to combat deforestation and climate disinformation. The organization highlights risks including the rollback of environmental regulations, the potential defunding of human rights initiatives, and a shift toward domestic mining on protected Native and Tribal lands. It also expresses concern over the 'anti-ESG' movement and the potential for social media platforms to spread disinformation under the guise of free speech.

• The incoming Trump administration is described as 'brazenly pro-fossil fuels,' with expectations that it will revoke the ban on new offshore oil drilling and roll back environmental regulations. This is linked to reported campaign contributions from oil moguls and the nomination of fracking executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.
• There is a significant risk that the US will reduce its support for land and environmental defenders by withdrawing from international collaborations and slashing foreign aid to human rights institutions, similar to actions taken during Trump's first term, such as withdrawing from the UN's Human Rights Council.
• The administration is expected to prioritize domestic critical mineral mining, potentially on protected Native and Tribal lands, while weakening environmental and human rights protections to increase efficiency.
• The document anticipates that the Trump administration will support the 'anti-ESG' movement to reverse gains made in ending deforestation and climate-risk disclosure, potentially leading financial institutions to abandon global net zero initiatives.
• Concerns are raised regarding the spread of disinformation and the erosion of democratic discourse, as the administration may pressure social media companies to remove content limits and repeal safeguards for the development of AI.

APA

Global Witness (2025). Trump 2.0 and Climate: The Risks You May Not Have Thought About Yet. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/trump-20-and-climate-the-risks-you-may-not-have-thought-about-yet/

Chicago

Global Witness. Trump 2.0 and Climate: The Risks You May Not Have Thought About Yet. 2025. https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/trump-20-and-climate-the-risks-you-may-not-have-thought-about-yet/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Global Witness |title=Trump 2.0 and Climate: The Risks You May Not Have Thought About Yet |date=2025 |url=https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/trump-20-and-climate-the-risks-you-may-not-have-thought-about-yet/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{globalwitness2025trump, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Trump 2.0 and Climate: The Risks You May Not Have Thought About Yet}}, publisher = {Global Witness}, year = {2025}, url = {https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/fossil-fuels/trump-20-and-climate-the-risks-you-may-not-have-thought-about-yet/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }