We're in danger of forgetting Trump's worst crime of all

Donald Trump’s ultimate presidential legacy will be one of the most shameful in US history. It will no doubt include his attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, inciting the first violent attack on the Capitol since 1814, responding irresponsibly to the COVID-19 pandemic, dividing the country profoundly, creating a political climate that fosters violence, and disgracing the office of the presidency with his dishonesty and corruption.

One thing that may get lost in his abysmal legacy, however, could arguably have the most dire and long-term consequences: Trump’s record as an environmental criminal.

Trump is a climate-change denier at a time when man-made climate change is wreaking havoc across the globe.

Climate change is driven by global warming responsible for melting glaciers and ice caps, rising sea levels, abnormally high temperatures, and changes in wind and precipitation patterns.

The effects of climate change can be seen in more frequent and powerful hurricanes, unprecedented coastal flooding, longer, more frequent droughts, massive wildfires, and unprecedented heat waves.

The resulting harm caused by man-made climate change is devastating. In 2023, a record 2,300 Americans died from heat-related deaths. Since 2020, 400 Americans have died per year as a result of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods.

In 2024, 4.3 million Americans were displaced by hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and wildfires. In 2024, there were 27 confirmed climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each. In the 44 years from 1980 to 2024, 41 percent of the extreme climate events occurred during the last five years.

Water-dependent industries are the most affected by climate change. Agriculture is the hardest hit, as a result of water depletion in the western states caused by severe droughts, hotter temperatures and excessive drilling. Climate change’s impact on agriculture includes greater water scarcity, reduced productivity, the spread of insects, invasive weeds, and diseases affecting crop yields, reduced incomes for farmers, and greater health problems for agricultural workers.

There is no question among scientists that the handprint of man-made climate change is evident in the greater frequency and destructiveness of extreme climate disasters. There is also no question that the emission of greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, chief among them CO2, is responsible for global warming and climate change.

Global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is essential for reversing global warming and preventing the world from reaching the internationally agreed upon tipping point of 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to scientists, to prevent worsening and potentially irreversible effects of climate change, the world’s average temperature should not exceed that of preindustrial times by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Being the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, the US plays a major role in reducing emissions and at the very least, preventing the devastation of climate change from growing worse. However, not only is Trump doing nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he is increasing their output.

By gutting federal regulations to reduce industrial emissions, creating greater US dependence on fossil fuel industries that are the largest CO2 emitters, and ending federal funding for alternative clean-energy development and electric vehicle-purchase rebates, Trump is doing everything possible to increase the US’s carbon footprint while the vast majority of countries are working to reduce theirs.

By ignoring climate change, Trump is complicit in every American life lost to climate change, the displacement of millions of Americans by extreme climate events, the billions of dollars of economic loss, and the increasingly unlivable conditions caused by severe heat in many regions, with lower income Americans the most severely affected.

Trump doesn’t care about the thousands of Americans dying from climate change, or being displaced from their homes, or in financial ruin. He is indifferent to the severe ecological degradation that is occurring globally. Trump has made his devil’s pact with Big Oil.

Trump was bought and paid for by millions of dollars of campaign contributions from the oil industry. His end of the devil’s deal was to repeal all emission-reduction regulations, support increased oil production, and impede the production of clean, less expensive energy sources that cut into Big Oil’s profits.

While Trump ignores climate change, 23 Blue states and Louisiana have established 100 percent clean energy goals with aggressive programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Trump and Big Oil aren’t happy.

Trump’s Department of Justice has sued New York and Vermont for laws making fossil fuel companies liable for costs dealing with climate change. It is suing Hawaii and Michigan over their climate-related lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. Trump is working to end California’s stringent motor vehicle emissions standards and its cap-and-trade program.

These states’ climate-change programs are keeping the US from having among the worst CO2-emissions’ record in the world, and Trump is doing all that he can to stifle theirs and America's progress.

In ignoring climate change, Trump is willing to risk leaving future generations with an apocalyptic environment and worldwide human suffering at an unimaginable level, all for the sake of political gain. That is far beyond irresponsible. That is far beyond criminal. That is pure evil.

• Tom Tyner is a freelance editorialist, satirist, political analyst, blogger, author and retired English instructor