Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.
You know it's fascinating.
Even though former President Biden
tried to limit oil and gas drilling,
America actually produced more oil
than ever before while he was in office.
Crazy, right?
Now that President Trump is back in the White House,
we're taking a look at what Biden did for the environment
and what might change now that there's a new administration.
What's his environmental legacy and will it last?
Well, it's a mixed bag for sure
and President Trump's ideas about climate change
and energy are pretty different from Biden's.
Yeah, they are.
So, yeah.
So where do we even begin with all this?
Well, Biden did a lot to protect our land and water,
that's for sure.
He also spent a lot of time trying to undo the changes
that the previous Trump administration
made to environmental rules.
So it's almost like they were playing tug of war
with the environment.
Exactly.
Right, one pulling this way, the other pulling that way.
Exactly, and we can see that play out in a few key areas.
How we deal with climate change
and air pollution drilling for oil and gas,
keeping our chemicals safe, protecting natural areas,
and deciding what happens with offshore drilling
in the Gulf of Mexico.
Okay, so those are the battlegrounds, so to speak.
But President Trump has already hinted
that he wants to change a lot of what Biden did.
Is that even possible?
I mean, it seems like it could turn into a legal mess.
Oh, you better believe there will be some legal fights.
Let's start with climate change and air pollution.
Under Biden, the Environmental Protection Agency,
you know, the EPA, they made stricter rules
about greenhouse gases coming from cars and power plants.
Right, those rules are supposed to help us
avoid the worst effects of climate change, right?
Exactly, but President Trump might try
to get rid of those rules.
It won't be easy though.
States and environmental groups will probably sue
to keep the rules in place.
Plus, some car companies have put so much money
into building electric vehicles
that they might not want to go back to the old ways.
That's interesting.
It's like the car industry is on a different track now.
Yeah.
And they can't just switch back so easily.
You got it.
And one rule to watch carefully
is the one about power plants.
Trump has said he wants to get rid of it completely
and that could be a huge deal for those power plants
that still burn coal.
It sounds like this rule is really at the heart
of the fight over climate change.
What about the science though?
Can legal challenges based on scientific evidence
actually stop Trump from changing these rules?
It's possible.
The courts could have a big say in what happens.
Remember, it's not just about politics.
It's about what the law says and what the science shows.
Okay, that makes sense.
Now onto something that seems a bit puzzling.
Okay.
Oil production in the US reached record highs under Biden,
even though his administration was trying to limit drilling.
How is that possible?
Well, President Trump has been criticizing
Biden's energy policies from the start.
He wants to make America energy dominant again,
which basically means drilling more.
So does that mean opening up more federal lands to drilling?
Places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,
you know, ANWR, I know that's been
a controversial topic for years.
That's definitely on the table.
But we can't just ignore the environmental impact
of drilling more, especially in place like ANWR+.
Oil companies already have a bunch of permits
they haven't even used yet.
They might not be so eager to drill in new areas.
Why wouldn't they want to drill if they have the permits?
Well, the oil market can be pretty unpredictable.
And there's been a big push for cleaner energy sources.
It's a complex situation for those companies.
Plus, they actually want some rules about methane emissions
because it helps them be more efficient and not waste gas.
So there's actually some agreement there.
Who would have thought?
It seems like there's a lot more nuance to this
than just drill more or drill less.
Exactly.
It's never that simple.
You know, before we go any further,
I want to remind everyone to follow meteorologist
Rob Jones on social media.
He breaks down all this stuff
in a way that's easy to understand.
You can find him on Instagram at
at meteorologists, TikTok at TV meteorologists,
and on YouTube at at Rob Jones Hurricane.
He even has a playlist there
for our podcast meteorology matter.
So be sure to check it out.
All right, let's move on to chemical safety.
The EPA under Biden did a lot to ban
or restrict some really harmful chemicals.
Asbestos, lead, PFAS, those forever chemicals
that you hear so much about.
Right.
But I've read about those forever chemicals.
Yeah.
And I think it's a good idea to go away, which is scary.
But I imagine the EPA faced a lot of opposition
from industries when they tried to ban these chemicals.
Oh, absolutely.
Banning toxic chemicals is always a fight.
There's a lot of pushback from the companies
that make them and the process for banning them
is really complicated.
Plus, we've got a new player in the game now,
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is Trump's pick
to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
He's got some strong opinions about these chemicals too.
That's right.
He's been very vocal about public health.
Do you think he'll try to change what the EPA has already done?
It's hard to say for sure, but he can definitely
shake things up.
Now let's talk about conservation.
Biden wanted to protect 30% of America's lands and waters
by 2030, his 30 by 30 goal.
He also created and expanded some national monuments,
which protects millions of acres from development.
Seems like a lot.
It was a big step, especially compared
to what happened under the previous Trump administration,
which shrunk some national monuments, particularly in Utah.
So you've got these two very different approaches
to conservation.
And it's going to be interesting to see how it plays out.
It sounds like we're back to that tug of war again.
But I'm guessing it's more than just a difference of opinion,
right?
There are probably legal questions
about whether a president can just create or change
national monuments like that.
Absolutely.
There are definitely legal questions
about how much power the president actually
has when it comes to national monuments.
This could even end up going all the way to the Supreme Court.
Wow, that's a big deal.
But even beyond the legal stuff, I
imagine there's a lot of tension between wanting
to protect these areas and the people who
want to use them for things like logging or mining.
You're absolutely right.
It's a tough balance to strike between conservation
and economic interests, especially in places
where there are a lot of natural resources.
All right, let's move on to our last topic for this section,
offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Biden's administration came up with a plan,
but it only allows for a very limited amount of drilling.
In fact, it's the smallest offshore drilling plan in history.
That's right.
And it caused a lot of controversy.
Environmental groups were happy about it,
but the oil industry and some lawmakers were not.
They argued that it would hurt our energy independence
and kill jobs.
So what happens now?
With the Republican-controlled Congress,
will they try to overturn this plan and allow more drilling,
especially with the possibility of those tax cuts expiring?
That's definitely a possibility.
Congress has a lot of power over what
happens with offshore drilling, and they
might try to use that power to push for more drilling.
They can even link it to the budget or tax negotiations.
So it's like using the budget as leverage
to get what they want on offshore drilling.
That's one way to look at it.
It just shows how complex these issues really are
and how environmental policy is often
intertwined with other political priorities.
Wow.
It's like we're peeling back the layers of an onion.
And each layer reveals another layer of complexity.
Absolutely.
Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.
We're digging into what Biden did for the environment
and what might change now that Trump is back in the White
House.
It seems like every decision has these ripple effects, right?
You change one thing, and it impacts everything else.
Absolutely.
Everything's connected.
Remember how we were talking about drilling and methane?
Well, Biden's administration finalized a rule
to limit methane leaks from oil and gas operations
on public lands.
Oh, right.
Methane is a really powerful greenhouse gas,
even worse than carbon dioxide when it comes to trapping heat.
So stopping those leaks seems like a big deal for the climate.
You are absolutely right.
This rule, which was put in place
by the Bureau of Land Management,
tries to encourage companies to capture that methane instead
of just letting it escape into the atmosphere.
It's good for the environment and could even
help those companies make more money, right?
I mean, captured methane is basically natural gas
they can sell.
Exactly.
But this is where things get a little tricky
with the new administration.
How so?
I thought Trump was all about energy dominance.
Wouldn't capturing more methane actually help with that?
That's a good question.
Trump has said he wants to cut back on regulations
that he thinks are holding back the energy industry.
He might see this methane rule as one
of those unnecessary burdens.
Hmm.
But that seems a bit contradictory, doesn't it?
If you want more American energy,
why not make sure we're capturing as much natural gas
as possible?
Well, the oil and gas industry has actually
been supportive of methane regulations in the past.
They see it as a way to be more efficient and reduce waste,
which can help their bottom line.
So it's possible that this is one area where there might
be some agreement between the two administrations.
That would be a nice change.
It's good to know that even in this politically charged
atmosphere, there's still room for common sense solutions.
Absolutely.
Let's not forget that finding solutions
requires looking at all sides of the issue.
OK, let's shift gears and talk about what happened in Alaska.
Biden took steps to protect millions
of acres of public lands from drilling and mining,
specifically in an area called D1 lands.
Right.
These lands are super important for Alaska
native communities for wildlife and for preserving
some of those amazing wild places that Alaska is known for.
Yeah, I can see why protecting those lands
would be a big deal for so many people.
But I'm guessing not everyone was happy about it.
You're right.
There was definitely pushback.
Remember how the previous Trump administration wanted
to open up those areas for development?
They tried to reverse the protections,
but they didn't manage to finalize those changes
before leaving office.
So Biden's actions basically put those protections back
in place, right?
Exactly.
And it sets the stage for another potential showdown
with the new administration.
Do you think Trump will try to reverse those protections again
now that he's back in office?
It's certainly a possibility.
Remember, he's been very vocal about wanting
to increase energy production on federal lands.
And Alaska, with all its oil and gas reserves,
is a prime target for that.
Yeah, I can see how that would create a real dilemma.
On one hand, you have the potential economic benefits
of drilling, but on the other hand,
you have the environmental impact
and the concerns of indigenous communities
who rely on those lands.
It's a classic example of the tension
between economic development and environmental protection.
And it seems like we keep coming back to that tension.
It's a recurring theme in environmental policy.
And it's something that we'll probably continue to grapple
with for years to come.
Speaking of recurring themes, we also
have to talk about that offshore drilling plan
in the Gulf of Mexico.
Right, Biden's plan was super limited,
with only three lease sales plan through 2029.
That's a tiny fraction of what we've seen in the past.
That's why it sparked so much debate.
Environmental groups were thrilled, but the oil industry
and some lawmakers were furious.
They argued that it would hurt our energy independence
and lead to job losses.
So what do you think will happen now?
Will this Republican-controlled Congress
try to push for more offshore drilling?
It's certainly a possibility.
They could try to pass legislation
that requires more lease sales, maybe even tying it
to things like the budget or tax policy.
So it's like using the budget as leverage
to get what they want on offshore drilling.
That's one way to look at it.
It just shows how complex these issues really are
and how environmental policy is often intertwined
with other political priorities.
Wow, it's like we're peeling back the layers of an onion
and each layer reveals another layer of complexity.
It's true.
And we haven't even touched on some
of the more localized environmental issues
that Biden tackled, like protecting
specific rivers and lakes or trying to improve air quality
in cities.
It's a reminder that environmental policy isn't just
about these big national decisions.
It's also about what happens in our own backyards
and our communities.
Exactly.
And sometimes those local issues can be even more contentious
because they directly impact people's lives and livelihoods.
It's fascinating how this deep dive
into Biden's environmental legacy is revealing not just
what he did, but also the deeper tensions and trade-offs
that are always present when we try
to balance environmental protection
with economic development.
It's a constant balancing act, and there's no easy answer.
Before we move on to talk about the potential legal battles
that could erupt over these policy changes,
let's take a moment to acknowledge
what Biden achieved in the realm of conservation.
You're right.
He really made his mark on protecting public lands
and waters.
Creating those new national monuments and restoring
protections that had been rolled back,
that's a significant legacy.
It definitely is.
But as we've been discussing the question now
is how much of that legacy will survive
under this new political landscape?
That's the big question, and it's
one that we'll be exploring in the next part of our Meteorology
Matters podcast.
Welcome back to Meteorology Matters.
We've been talking about all the stuff
former President Biden did for the environment
and how things might change now that President Trump's back
in charge.
And it seems like we can't talk about any of this
without thinking about the legal battles that are probably
going to happen.
Oh, yeah.
You're absolutely right.
Lawsuits are basically guaranteed
when you've got such a big shift in environmental policy.
Remember, we've got this system of checks and balances,
and the courts are a huge part of that.
So where do you think those legal challenges will pop up?
And we've talked about drilling permits and air pollution
regulations, all that stuff.
What are the biggest legal issues that could actually come up?
Well, one of the most important areas to watch
is the EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
That was like the cornerstone of Biden's whole climate agenda,
using the EPA to put stricter rules in place
for power plants and cars.
Right, because those are two of the biggest sources
of greenhouse gases, and those gases are what's
driving climate change.
Exactly.
But the legal basis for those EPA regulations
has been challenged before.
Oh, really?
And it's probably going to be challenged again now
that Trump is in office.
So are you saying this could end up in the Supreme Court?
Oh, it's definitely possible.
And the outcome of a Supreme Court case like that
could completely change how we deal with climate change
here in the US.
Wow, that's a lot of pressure on the Supreme Court.
It just shows how everything's connected.
The politics, the law, the science, it's all tied together.
You're exactly right.
And speaking of science, another area
where we could see some legal challenges
is the protection of endangered species.
Remember, Biden's administration reversed some
of those Trump-era changes that weakened protections
for certain species.
Right, it seems like those endangered species listings
are always causing problems.
Oh, you're telling me.
We can definitely expect pushback
from all those industry groups and landowners
who say that protecting these species just
hurts their businesses.
So more lawsuits, more court battles, and potentially
years of legal arguing.
Yeah, it's a long process.
And it can be frustrating, but that's just
how our legal system works.
It's designed so that everybody gets to have their say,
and those big decisions are made really carefully.
OK, I get it.
It's not always pretty, but it's important
to have those legal safeguards.
But even beyond the specific legal challenges,
what about just the overall approach
to environmental enforcement?
Like, will the Trump administration
be as aggressive as Biden's was in going after companies
or people who break environmental laws?
That's a good question.
Will we see a more laid-back approach
with more emphasis on voluntary compliance,
or are they going to really come down
hard on the rule breakers?
I guess we'll have to see, but how much they enforce the rules
can really determine if the regulations are actually
effective.
Right, it's one thing to have a rule in a book,
but it's another thing to actually make sure
people follow it.
I bet environmental groups are going
to be keeping a close eye on this.
Oh, absolutely.
But let's not forget about public opinion.
That plays a huge role, too.
All this awareness about climate change
and other environmental issues, it's
grown so much in recent years.
And that puts pressure on the people in charge
to actually do something.
Yeah, I agree.
It seems like more and more people
are worried about the environment,
and they're not afraid to say something about it.
Exactly.
But public opinion can change so quickly,
and it's shaped by what we see in the news,
how the economy is doing, what politicians are saying.
The Trump administration is definitely
going to try and sway people's opinions
on environmental issues.
So it's a battle for hearts and minds, not just
in the courts and Congress, but also
in the media and among everyday people.
Exactly.
That's why it's so important for everyone
to stay informed, have those conversations,
and make their voices heard.
We can't just sit around and let other people decide
the future of our environment.
That's a good point.
Well, we've definitely covered a lot in our look
into Biden's environmental legacy, what he did,
the challenges that are coming up,
and the possibility of some serious legal and political
fights.
It's definitely a complicated and constantly changing
situation.
It really is, but one thing is clear.
The decisions that are made over the next few years
are going to have a huge impact on the health of our planet
and the generations to come.
We all have a part to play.
Absolutely, as we try to figure out this whole thing.
We have to rely on the science.
We have to listen to each other, even when we disagree.
And we've got to be willing to talk and work together.
That's the only way we're going to find solutions
that work for everyone.
I couldn't agree more.
So as we wrap up this episode of Meteorology Matters,
we'll leave you with this.
What role will you play in shaping
the future of environmental policy?
Think about it, talk about it, and most importantly,
do something about it.
Thanks for listening to us on this deep dive
into a topic that's so important for all of us.
And hey, don't forget to follow meteorologist Rob Jones
on Instagram and TikTok at at meteorologist and YouTube
at Rob Jones' Hurricane.
He's got even more great insights over there.
You can also find meteorology matters in his podcast playlist.
Until next time, stay curious, still informed,
and stay engaged.