Climate Change

Climate change policy addresses the global response to rising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere — primarily carbon dioxide and methane from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture — that are warming the planet, raising sea levels, intensifying extreme weather, and disrupting ecosystems. The scientific consensus on human-caused climate change is unambiguous: every major scientific organization in the world concurs that burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of warming since the mid-20th century. The Paris Agreement (2015) committed nearly every nation to limiting warming to 1.5–2°C above pre-industrial levels through nationally determined emissions reduction targets. The U.S. under President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement after Trump's first-term withdrawal, then Trump withdrew again in 2025. The Inflation Reduction Act (2022) is the most significant U.S. climate legislation ever enacted, with provisions to reduce emissions through clean energy tax credits, electric vehicle incentives, and methane fees — though the One Big Beautiful Bill (2025) rolled back several IRA clean energy provisions. Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time on an annual basis, a threshold scientists had flagged as a critical marker. Adaptation — preparing for climate impacts that are now inevitable — is receiving growing attention alongside mitigation, as floods, wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat become more frequent and severe.