Trump is back

But the global climate movement never left

During his first term, Donald Trump’s administration’s embrace of fossil fuels, captured in slogans like “Drill, Baby, Drill”, offered a platform for outdated ideologies. Now, with his inauguration speech making it evident that the “Drill, Baby, Drill” rhetoric is here to stay, supported by a new $20 billion funding package from the UAE’s DAMAC and Trump’s bold declaration of a national energy emergency to promote domestic oil drilling, this renewed push for fossil fuels threatens to undermine global efforts to combat climate change and stall the energy transition.

Yet, if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past decade, it’s that climate policy has a way of surviving political whiplash. But buckle up, because with Trump set for another term in the White House, the renewable energy sector and corporate climate strategies may be facing a fresh round of uncertainty. The good news? There are still five basic paths businesses and organisations in the US are already eyeing, whether it’s stepping back, staying the course, or rebranding their sustainability talk entirely.

Better yet, in response to America’s retreat from climate leadership during Trump’s first term, Europe doubled down on its climate commitments, accelerating policy innovation and clean energy investment—proving that setbacks can, in fact, ignite progress.

So, which path are you on? And what can you expect in a political environment that’s likely to dial down federal support for clean energy? Let’s dig into the latest insights.

The Trump administration’s climate stance

Donald Trump’s views on climate change have been clear, often being both dismissive and contradictory. In a 2012 tweet, he claimed that climate change was “created by and for the Chinese”, while later, in a 2018 interview, he stated, “I don’t think it’s a hoax… But I don’t know that it’s man-made.” These statements mirrored his administration’s broader approach, including withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, promoting fossil fuel industries, and rolling back environmental regulations.

In the past, Trump-era policies opened millions of acres of public land to oil and gas drilling, weakened methane emission standards, and supported coal-fired power plants. His inauguration speech confirmed that this is likely going to make a comeback. The return of this narrative, along with the Trump administration’s immediate withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement and other international climate commitments, risks amplifying these voices, making it imperative to counteract them with facts, transparency, and a loyal commitment to renewable energy.

There is no doubt that the key policies and rhetoric of Trump’s first term hindered climate progress, stalling global efforts. However, the resilience of the climate movement remains persistent, so let’s use the challenges posed by his renewed agenda as the catalyst to encourage even greater collective action and innovation.

The five paths for corporate climate action

At a recent gathering of corporate sustainability officers, building operations professionals, and consultants, the discussion turned toward the new Trump Administration’s impact on climate initiatives. Now it’s one thing to track policy changes; it’s another to understand how real-world businesses are responding. That’s where the poll data on the five choices becomes illuminating, with the group highlighting five potential courses of action:

Continue the course (60%)

A majority still plan to stick to their existing sustainability roadmaps. If your climate plan is deeply integrated into your brand and operations, it might take more than a White House change to knock it off track. Perhaps you see value in long-term decarbonization—either in brand equity, operational savings, or investor pressure.

Step up – do more (15%)

A smaller but significant slice is going further, often because local or state mandates are forcing their hand, or because they see a strategic opportunity to stand out in a more muted federal climate landscape.

Step back – do less (10%)

These are often the companies that were lukewarm on sustainability from the start. A more permissive federal environment offers the perfect excuse to dial down budgets or postpone commitments they weren’t fully on board with.

Greenhush (10%)

Some companies plan to keep forging ahead but stay quiet about it. They see benefits in building out renewable portfolios or efficiency measures but want to avoid the noise (and potential backlash) of being labeled “green crusaders” in a politically charged climate.

Change the Language (5%)

Instead of talking about “fighting climate change,” these businesses might say they’re buying renewable energy for ROI, resiliency, or risk mitigation. It’s a subtle pivot that reframes climate action as part of everyday business strategy rather than a political stance.

States step up: The blue state factor

Here’s where it gets interesting. Just because the White House might pump the brakes, doesn’t mean states won’t hit the gas. Most experts agree that blue states and major cities will charge ahead on stricter climate and energy requirements, including:

• Enhanced building codes & Building Performance Standards (BPS)
• Climate disclosure laws, similar to what’s being rolled out in California
• Renewable portfolio standards that push utilities towards higher percentages of clean energy

California, for instance, has passed a climate disclosure law set to impact about 75% of large U.S. businesses, and it’s now with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for implementation in mid-2025. New York is likely to follow suit with legislation of its own, potentially along with a wave of other “me-too” states.

Translation for business? Even if the federal government isn’t asking for climate transparency, a vast swath of the U.S. economy could find themselves facing new legal requirements to measure, disclose, and reduce carbon emissions.

Europe as a global climate leader

In addition to this, in the wake of America’s retreat from climate leadership during Trump’s first term, Europe emerged as a frontrunner in the fight against climate change. The European Union’s Green Deal, approved in 2020, set ambitious goals, including achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

On top of that, the cornerstone of Europe’s strategy is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), mandating companies disclose detailed information about their sustainability practices. With Trump’s return to the White House, Europe’s leadership role will likely grow even more pronounced.

A call to action

Yes, the climate policy pendulum can swing wildly, but the longer trend line is clear: renewable energy adoption is rising, state-level mandates are increasing, and global supply chains are demanding robust sustainability credentials.

We know that governments alone cannot tackle the climate crisis, and Trump’s return to the presidency will likely be a reminder of how fragile progress can be. While his administration might aim to stall the climate fight, the climate itself won’t wait for his presidency to end.

This means we need to step up. Businesses may face stricter policies in other regions, like the EU, and will need to adapt to remain competitive. The global climate movement has proven its resilience, but it’s clear that the responsibility lies with all of us to push forward.