Introduction to the Trump Administration’s Plan
“Drill, baby, drill” was a campaign promise made by Donald Trump, and he is moving forward with a proposal to expand fossil fuel production that environmentalists say would have devastating consequences. The Trump administration has presented a plan to open federal waters off the coast of California, Florida, and Alaska for the first time in decades to drill for oil and gas – even in areas that have never been touched before.
The Scope of the Proposal
A total of one billion hectares of water would be offered for lease under the proposal. This corresponds to more than half of the total land area of the USA. As the rest of the Western world moves to move away from fossil fuels, the USA seems to be turning to them again, with the government describing climate change as a “hoax”, “scam” and “fraud”.
Environmental Concerns
In Huntington Beach – a coastal community in California that calls itself “Surf City USA” – a huge oil spill in 2021 shut down a kilometer-long stretch of coastline, killing wildlife and polluting the sand. From the beach, where surfers lounge alongside tourists and dog walkers, you can see Platform Esther, a massive oil rig built in 1965 that ceased production in August this year. Sea lions hug the metal pillars of the oil rig and dozens of birds perch on the platform.
The Irreplaceable Marine Ecosystem
Pete Stauffer, a marine conservation manager, said: "Here in California, we rely on a clean and healthy coastal environment – be it coastal tourism, fishing or local businesses and jobs." “All of these things are tied to what we have here, which is a really outstanding marine ecosystem.” “What we have here is irreplaceable. Why would you risk that?" As a state, California sees itself as a pioneer in climate protection. A massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969 sparked the modern environmental movement.
The Trump Administration’s Perspective
But the Trump administration says more oil drilling will help make the country energy independent, create new jobs and lower gasoline prices. This message has resonated with some. Johnny Long is a surfer who lives in Huntington Beach. “Drill, baby, drill,” he says when asked about Trump’s plans for more offshore drilling. "We need as much oil as possible. It’s right underneath us. We need to take it and extract it and get gas prices down, that’s absolutely fantastic."
Public Opinion
When asked about concerns that this could be harmful to the local environment and beyond, Johnny replies: "I’d say Phoeey. It’s ridiculous. Climate change is a hoax." However, others vehemently disagree – including Linda from nearby Seal Beach: "It’s so bad for the environment. It’s bad enough, you know, and they’re going to drill, and what happens when they drill? Accidents always happen because people are people and accidents happen.” “Trump and his administration don’t care about the environment, they only care about money.”
The UN Climate Change Conference
The President’s push to expand fossil fuel production coincided with the UN Climate Change Conference. For the first time in the history of the summit, the US did not send a delegation. Critics say the snub shows a disregard for the way future generations will be affected by the decisions the White House is currently making.
