Trump’s Climate Rollbacks Spark Renewed Advocacy for Environmental Justice

Advocates for clean energy and environmental justice vow to continue efforts despite federal government setbacks.

January 29, 2025

Amid ongoing debates over climate change and clean energy, President Donald Trump’s termination of various federal climate initiatives has sparked a resilient response from advocates. Efforts to support renewable energy sources and environmental justice continue despite the federal government’s withdrawal from these initiatives.

In early 2021, President Joe Biden launched the Justice40 initiative, aiming to direct no less than 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. This initiative was coordinated by the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, in collaboration with the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council.

However, Justice40 was among the initial executive orders rescinded by President Trump. This week, former officials from the Biden administration convened to discuss alternative approaches as the federal government withdraws from efforts to enhance environmental justice and address pollution-related concerns.

Shalanda Baker is the University of Michigan's first vice provost for sustainability and climate action. She served the Biden administration as director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the U.S. Department of Energy. — Shalanda Baker is the University of Michigan’s first vice provost for sustainability and climate action. She served the Biden administration as director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the U.S. Department of Energy.

“It took three days, three days for that match to get struck and then burn it down,” stated Shalanda Baker, who was the director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the U.S. Department of Energy. Baker emphasized the need for organization and resolve, mirroring the strategic dismantling by Trump’s administration.

At a University of Michigan seminar, Baker and others examined how to proceed with environmental justice and renewable energy initiatives after the federal government redirected its focus to fossil fuels. Baker now holds the position of vice-provost for sustainability and climate action at the university.

Another voice at the event, Tony Reames, formerly involved in energy justice at the Department of Energy, expressed empathy for the audience’s concerns over the Trump administration’s stance. “We may be sick to our stomach with what we’re seeing. We may be in despair. Like right now, like I have a frog in my throat because thinking about, you know, our colleagues that are still in the federal government being laid off, not because they’ve done anything wrong, no performance issues, but because of the work they’re doing for the American people. And so in this moment, we all must think about the small things, the large things that we can do. But more importantly, let’s lock arms and do it together.”

Tony Reames is an associate professor with the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. He was formerly the deputy director for energy justice and principal deputy directors for the Office of State and Community Energy Programs in the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Trump administration regards environmental justice as part of a “woke” agenda, a stance it believes the nation should not pursue. The rulemaking authority of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, an entity established during the Nixon administration, has been revoked under Trump’s leadership.

Jalonne White-Newsome was the first federal chief environmental justice officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Jalonne White-Newsome, the first federal chief environmental justice officer with the Council on Environmental Quality, reinforced the idea that environmental justice transcends government efforts. “Environmental justice didn’t start with the federal government and it won’t end with the federal government. So, it is up to everyone to make sure that you are using your power and privilege for good,” she asserted, urging continuity in the mission regardless of administrative changes.

Carla Walker-Miller, CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services, shared her perspective on the challenges faced by small, minority-owned businesses in the clean energy sector. She emphasized courage as a vital quality. “Courage is a renewable resource. And the reason I say that is we all have times where it’s just too much, it’s just too hard and we don’t do the courageous thing. But for me, there is nothing worse than being in that room and not doing the courageous thing and then having to deal with myself later because I could have made a difference,” she encouraged.

Carla Walker-Miller is CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services.

Walker-Miller pointed out that there is an increasing movement towards environmental justice and decarbonization, with more widespread involvement than ever before, offering a glimmer of hope for those committed to these causes.

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