Joe Biden will be sworn in today as the 46th President of the United States. University of Michigan professor Richard Rood is one of many experts expecting the new administration will undo the damaging environmental policies of the Trump administration and advance the effort to combat the climate crisis. Dr. Rood discussed his predictions with WEMU's David Fair in this week's "Issues of the Environment."
Overview
- Joe Biden becomes President today. Climate change and policy will re-enter the political radar.
- The tenure of President Trump saw “the outright attack on science” and “endgame vandalism focused on climate science,” says Dr. Richard Rood, professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan.
- The Trump presidency, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupted alliances, discussions, and solution-seeking for climate change. But, the world has continued warming.
- Dr. Rood says that constructive efforts must be informed by “what has worked in the past,” including participation in the Paris Climate Accord and WHO, global transitioning to renewable energy, and setting a price on carbon that addresses the costs.
- He also says that new paths must be forged, and wholly new concepts will be part of the path forward. This might include revolutions in climate modeling and setting an infrastructure and funding for climate innovation.
- Climate change policy under the new Democratic administration may find unexpected support from Republicans in 2021. With the latest Democratic wins in the Georgia runoffs, the nation may be primed to tackle the climate crisis.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at 734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
