Environmental Justice is a fundamental principle stating that every person, regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnic origin, or economic status, has the right to live in a healthy environment and participate equally in environmental decision-making. Under the Biden administration, this issue was defined as a noble and central goal in environmental policy, with the prominent example being the Justice40 initiative, designed to ensure that 40% of the benefits from federal investments in climate and energy reach disadvantaged communities that have suffered for years from neglect and environmental pollution. Through this, Biden attempted to combine the correction of social injustices with building sustainable environmental infrastructure.
In contrast, President Trump took the opposite approach and led extensive deletions of information related to environmental justice and DEI initiatives from government databases, particularly during the first hundred days of his second term. Government tools designed to map disadvantaged communities were removed, and major federal climate websites were shut down or reduced. While Biden viewed environmental justice as an integral part of the fight against the environmental crisis, Trump sought to minimize any reference to it and presented the focus as a “return to core missions” of the agencies.
Beyond institutional policy, Trump himself expressed skepticism and even contempt for human impact on climate. As early as 2015, he said: “There could be a little bit of something having to do with factories and smoke and things. But for the most part I’m not a believer in (man-made climate change)” – a quote reflecting very partial recognition of human contribution to the phenomenon alongside stubborn resistance to acknowledging it as scientific fact. In 2018, when asked about a comprehensive government report warning of severe consequences of climate change, he replied: “It’ll start getting cooler. … I don’t think science knows, actually.” These statements reinforced his skeptical position and deepened the gap between him and scientific consensus.
Parallel to his positions on climate, Trump tried to promote his candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize, but his chances remained slim in light of harsh international criticism. Ironically, in 2020 he actually won an Ig Nobel Prize in the “Medical Education” category along with other leaders, as satirical recognition for how politicians demonstrated how their influence on the public during the coronavirus pandemic could be stronger and faster than that of scientists and doctors. While the Nobel Prize is perceived as a symbol of noble achievements for humanity, the Ig Nobel Prize is intended to provoke laughter and thought, thus marking Trump’s place as one who would have to settle for ironic criticism instead of prestigious recognition.
