Former Interior Official: Trump Policies Will ‘Really Have Longterm, Concerning Implications’ On Environment

Emissions rise from three large smokestacks at a coal-fired power plant in Castle Dale, Utah, in 2017. Democratic presidential candidates are releasing plans to reduce U.S. emissions in order to head off the most dangerous consequences of global warming.
Emissions rise from three large smokestacks at a coal-fired power plant in Castle Dale, Utah, in 2017. Democratic presidential candidates are releasing plans to reduce U.S. emissions in order to head off the most dangerous consequences of global warming.
Emissions rise from three large smokestacks at a coal-fired power plant in Castle Dale, Utah, in 2017. Democratic presidential candidates are releasing plans to reduce U.S. emissions in order to head off the most dangerous consequences of global warming.
Emissions rise from three large smokestacks at a coal-fired power plant in Castle Dale, Utah, in 2017. Democratic presidential candidates are releasing plans to reduce U.S. emissions in order to head off the most dangerous consequences of global warming.

Former Interior Official: Trump Policies Will ‘Really Have Longterm, Concerning Implications’ On Environment

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President Trump has made eliminating environmental regulations a priority for his office.

Last week the administration announced its plans to roll back energy-efficient light bulbs. Last month, the administration announced a plan to roll back methane emission regulations. And around that same time, the administration put forth changes that would significantly weaken the Endangered Species Act, which protects 1,600 plant and animal species.

According to the New York Times, this administration has made more than 80 environment-related policy changes and rollbacks.

And rollbacks like these come at a precarious time—when this last July has been confirmed by meteorologists as Earth’s hottest month on record.

For more on this issue, Morning Shift sits down with Lynn Scarlett, vice president of policy and government relations at the Nature Conservancy. She’s also the former Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Bush Administration.