Us climate policy moves backward as extreme weather costs hit $115 billion while china advances green energy

The United States faced a devastating climate reality check in the past year, with 23 extreme weather disasters each costing over $1 billion, totaling an estimated $115 billion in damages. Wildfires, floods, and severe winter storms dominated the headlines as the last three years shattered all previous records for climate-related catastrophes. Scientists delivered an urgent warning last Wednesday, stating that humanity is closer than ever to reaching a tipping point where global warming becomes unstoppable.

In a striking contrast to this mounting crisis, President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced just one day later that they would eliminate the Obama-era “endangerment finding” – a critical scientific determination that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. This regulatory foundation has supported federal climate action for over a decade, and its removal represents the most significant blow yet to America’s environmental protections under the Trump administration.

The timing underscores a troubling disconnect between climate science and policy direction. While Trump has historically dismissed global warming as a “hoax,” his administration framed this latest rollback primarily as business deregulation, suggesting even climate skeptics recognize the growing public acceptance of climate science. This policy reversal benefits fossil fuel companies and billionaire donors while leaving Americans increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts.

Meanwhile, China continues investing heavily in renewable energy infrastructure and green technology, positioning itself as a global leader in the clean energy transition that many scientists consider essential for avoiding catastrophic climate change.