Grade Level: High School and Undergraduate
Subject: Environmental Policy, Political Science
On the heels of the hottest year in recorded history, one that brought the planet to a dangerous temperature threshold, President Trump effectively told the world on Monday that the United States is out of the climate fight.
Hours after his inauguration, Trump signed a barrage of executive orders to dismantle Joe Biden’s agenda on climate and clean energy. The orders propel dozens of actions, including eliminating programs aimed at protecting communities disproportionately affected by pollution and demanding an end to protections for a tiny fish in California that Trump blames for water shortages in the state. The New York Times
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Summarize the key executive orders related to climate policy signed by President Trump in January 2025.
- Analyze the potential environmental, economic, and political impacts of these executive orders.
- Evaluate the role of executive authority in shaping U.S. climate policy.
- Debate the merits and drawbacks of withdrawing from international environmental agreements.
- Assess the potential long-term consequences of these policy changes on global climate action efforts.
- Identify key stakeholders affected by these executive orders and their responses.
Materials:
- New York Times: “3 of the Most Important Trump Executive Orders on Climate”
- Steamboat Pilot article: “What Trump’s executive orders signal about the future of climate action”
- The New Yorker article: “Trump’s Attempt to Redefine America”
- The Guardian: “Trump signs order to withdraw US from Paris climate agreement for second time”
- Vox article: “Trump’s Attack on EVs Is Just Theater – So Far”
- Time article: “What Happened the Last Time Trump Withdrew From the Paris Agreement”
Lesson Activities:
Session 1: Understanding the Executive Orders
- Introduction:
- Begin with a discussion on the role of executive orders in U.S. governance.
- Introduce the topic by summarizing recent actions taken by President Trump concerning climate policy.
Reading and Analysis:
- Divide students into small groups and assign one of the provided articles to each group.
- Instruct groups to read their assigned article and identify:
- The main points discussed.
- Specific executive orders mentioned.
- Potential impacts highlighted in the article.
- Each group will present their findings to the class.
- Answer the questions below in the group
Class Discussion:
- Facilitate a discussion on common themes identified across the articles.
- Highlight key executive orders, such as withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and promotion of fossil fuel industries.
- Discuss immediate reactions from various stakeholders, including environmental groups, industry representatives, and international actors.
Questions from articles
- What is an executive order, and how does it work in the U.S. government?
- Which key climate policies were changed by the recent executive orders signed by President Trump?
- What is the Paris Agreement, and why is it important?
- How might withdrawing from the Paris Agreement affect the United States’ international relationships?
- What are some arguments in favor of promoting fossil fuels in the U.S.?
- What are some potential risks of focusing on fossil fuel development instead of renewable energy?
- How can international cooperation help address climate change?
Session 2: Implications and Debates
Review:
- Recap key points from the previous session.
Deep Dive into the Paris Agreement Withdrawal:
- Provide a brief overview of the Paris Agreement’s objectives and history of U.S. involvement.
- Discuss the implications of U.S. withdrawal, referencing the impact of the previous withdrawal.
- Analyze the potential environmental and diplomatic consequences of this decision.
Policy Analysis:
- Introduce the concept of “social cost of carbon” and its role in policymaking.
- Discuss differences in calculations between administrations and their implications for climate policy.
- Examine the potential impacts of revoking the Biden administration’s scientific integrity policies.
Debate Preparation:
- Divide students into two groups: one supporting withdrawal, another opposing it.
- Allow time for each group to prepare arguments, encouraging them to use provided articles and additional reputable sources.
Debate:
- Conduct a structured debate, allowing each group to present their arguments and rebuttals.
Conclusion:
- Summarize key points raised during the debate.
- Discuss broader implications of executive actions on climate policy and the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change.
Assessment:
-
- Participation in group discussions and debates.
- A short reflective essay (500 words) on the potential long-term impacts of executive orders on U.S. environmental policy will be submitted in the next class.
- A group project analyzing the potential economic impacts of the “Unleashing American Energy” order on different sectors of the U.S. economy.
Extension Activities:
- Research and present legal challenges arising from these executive orders.
- Analyze potential impacts on state-level climate initiatives and policies.
- Investigate Congress’s role in shaping climate policy and potential legislative responses to these executive orders.