One Year After Green Bank’s Demise, Court Mulls Future of Grant-Based Climate Policy

One year ago, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the termination of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a climate initiative launched by the Biden administration. The move was met with criticism, and the Trump administration has since been accused of undermining climate policy.

What Happened

The Green Bank's demise was a significant blow to climate efforts, and the Trump administration's actions have been widely criticized by environmental advocates. Meanwhile, the administration is exploring deep-sea mining in American Samoa, despite opposition from local leaders and environmental groups.

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has begun mapping the seabed in American Samoa for mineral deposits.
• The Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is advancing the federal leasing process for private companies to mine the deposits.

Why It Matters

The Trump administration's climate policy has been under scrutiny, with many arguing that it is not doing enough to address global warming. The EPA's enforcement and compliance assurance results for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, have been questioned, with 75% of the agency's 61 criminal cases originating before Trump's second term.

> "The data tells a different story," said a spokesperson for the Environmental Defense Fund. "The EPA's enforcement record under Trump is lacking."

What Experts Say

The UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) has released a report arguing that a net-zero economy would protect the country from fossil-fuel price shocks. The report finds that the cost of cutting UK emissions to net-zero is less than the cost of a single fossil-fuel price shock.

> "A net-zero economy would be almost completely protected from fossil-fuel price spikes in the future," said a CCC spokesperson.

Key Numbers

• 38%: The decline in global news coverage of climate change since its peak in 2021.
• $20 billion: The amount of grants awarded through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
• 105,000: The number of vehicles and engines imported and sold by Hino Motors Ltd. with misleading or fabricated emissions data.

Key Facts

• Who: Trump administration
• What: Terminated the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, explored deep-sea mining in American Samoa
• When: One year ago, January 2025
• Where: American Samoa, United States
• Impact: Undermined climate policy, sparked opposition from environmental advocates

What Comes Next

As the Trump administration's climate policy continues to face scrutiny, the UK's Climate Change Committee argues that a net-zero economy is the way forward. With global warming concerns at the forefront, it remains to be seen how the administration will address the issue in the coming months.