Via Earth Beat News
Following the reelection of Donald Trump to a second term as President of the United States on Tuesday, Catholic environmental advocates are expressing grave concern over the future of federal climate and environmental policy. The election outcome has raised fears among Catholics, given Trump’s history of hostility to environmental regulations and his persistent dismissal of climate science.
Trump, the first convicted felon to enter the White House, has faced multiple indictments for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. During his first term, he repeatedly undermined environmental protections and, during his 2024 campaign, continued his antagonism toward efforts to combat climate change. His public dismissal of human-driven climate change as a “hoax” and his support for fossil fuel expansion, epitomized by the slogan “drill, baby, drill,” have raised alarms among Catholic leaders, who warn that these positions will exacerbate the climate crisis and inflict severe economic and environmental harm on millions of people worldwide.
Trump’s promises to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the global accord to combat climate change, have deepened concerns. He has suggested that he may not only pull out of the Paris Agreement again but also seek to disengage from other international environmental agreements, further hindering global climate action. His reelection comes just days before the United Nations Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where world leaders will make critical decisions on addressing the climate crisis.
The next decade is critical, climate scientists say, with the goal of halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in order to keep global warming well below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels — a target that appears increasingly unlikely under the current U.S. trajectory. As the world’s largest producer and consumer of oil and gas and a leading historical contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, the actions of the United States will remain pivotal in global climate efforts. In his victory speech on Wednesday, Trump proudly touted America’s oil and gas reserves, calling them “more liquid gold than any country in the world,” signaling his continued focus on fossil fuels and economic interests over climate concerns.
In response, Catholic Climate Covenant and the Laudato Si’ Movement issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to climate action despite the setbacks. “We know there will be challenges ahead,” the statement reads. “During Trump’s first term, we witnessed significant setbacks in climate action. Yet, we call upon and seek to work with President Trump’s administration and Congress to help ensure that the momentum generated in recent years toward meaningful climate policies continues, so that current and future generations inherit a safer planet.”
Catholic sisters have been among the most vocal in processing the implications of a second Trump term. Sr. Durstyne “Dusty” Farnan, a representative of the Dominican Leadership Conference at the United Nations, was on a Zoom call with environmental advocates preparing for the COP29 summit. Farnan expressed disappointment and concern over the election results, noting that many of the participants were “deeply worried” about the implications of the U.S. stepping back from its leadership role in global climate action. “We must be engaged,” she emphasized, adding that many nations still look to the U.S. for guidance on climate policy.
Sr. Irene O’Neill, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, also voiced concerns about the values driving the Trump administration’s approach to governance. “What worries us is that the Trump ethos is antithetical to the work of Catholic sisters,” she said. “It’s not money that keeps us alive, but community.” Sr. O’Neill expressed that the core values of community, solidarity, and care for creation — central to Catholic social teaching — are in direct conflict with Trump’s climate policies, which are rooted in individualism and profit-driven motives.
The reelection of Trump represents a critical juncture in the fight against climate change. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and a key player in the global economy, the actions of the U.S. will have profound effects on the future of the planet. Catholic leaders and advocates are committed to holding the new administration accountable for its climate policies and are calling for a renewed commitment to global climate action, ensuring that the U.S. once again becomes a leader in the effort to protect the planet for future generations.
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