Another day, another cut— welcome to The Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s watching climate policies disappear faster than our savings with the tech news of the past week.

Trump’s first week back in office has been nothing short of a climate policy massacre. More than 70 of Biden’s environmental policies have been rolled back, setting the stage for a fossil fuel resurgence and sending shockwaves through global energy markets. Let’s break it down.

Biden’s Climate Legacy? Shredded.

In just one week, Trump wiped out more than 70 climate and energy policies, from net-zero targets to federal clean energy programs. The US is out of the Paris Agreement (again), oil and gas drilling is back on the rise, and major green subsidies have been frozen.

Among the biggest cuts:

• Goodbye, Paris Agreement – The US has officially exited the global climate deal (again).

• More drilling, more pipelines – Offshore drilling bans? Gone. Keystone XL? Back on. Arctic drilling? Greenlit.

• No more EV push – Targets for 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030? Scrapped.

• Hundreds of billions in green funding? Paused. The Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy incentives are now in limbo.

If it was on Biden’s climate to-do list, it’s probably in the bin.

Big Oil’s Wishlist? Granted.

The fossil fuel industry is having a moment. Trump’s policy shifts align almost perfectly with the American Petroleum Institute’s pre-election roadmap, which called for expanded oil and gas drilling, fewer regulations, and fewer climate policies.

Some highlights from Big Oil’s wish list, now granted:

• More offshore drilling

• LNG exports fully back on

• Arctic oil projects revived

• Energy companies get a regulatory break

One industry executive even admitted they were “well-positioned” to influence the new policies. Translation: The oil lobby is back in business.

Legal Battles Incoming

Trump’s decision to freeze hundreds of billions in clean energy funding could spark legal challenges. Congress already approved these funds, so blocking them could undermine investor confidence in government-backed projects.

Some potential headaches ahead:

• Energy companies with approved funding could sue to force disbursements.

• State governments pushing clean energy may fight back, especially in places like California and New York.

• International trade disputes loom, as European leaders are already questioning how to compete with the US’s shifting energy priorities.

Meanwhile, clean energy investors are rattled—projects are being paused, and companies are scrambling to assess the new landscape.

The Strawman’s Takeaway

This isn’t just about the US. Europe is already under pressure to scale back its own climate rules, and China is seizing the moment to position itself as the global leader in renewables.

• Trump’s move will slow the US clean energy industry, potentially ceding leadership to China.

• European businesses are calling for a regulatory rollback, arguing that the US’s deregulation makes them less competitive.

• Developing countries relying on US climate funding may be left in limbo.

With the world’s largest economy now betting big on fossil fuels, the clean energy transition just hit a major speed bump.

That’s it for today—catch you tomorrow for more climate news, whether it’s good, bad, or just a little existentially terrifying.

– The Strawman