Rahm Emanuel, who previously served as the White House chief of staff and is eyeing a presidential run in 2028, has reflected on the old adage about not letting a good crisis go to waste. His stance seems to suggest tapping into voters’ immediate concerns for longer-term political leverage.
Meanwhile, with gas prices hovering above $4 a gallon in early April, the booming clamor of environmental advocates has quieted down, even with Earth Day just around the corner. It seems that as the world faces an energy shortage, climate organizations are realizing their usual solutions may not hold up under these pressures.
Take California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, for example. Last year, he proclaimed that the state’s economic success was tied to clean energy. Now, however, he’s focusing on the need to “responsibly increase oil production” in communications from his office.
President Trump’s Address at the UN Highlights True Costs of Green Energy
Here are a few instances indicating shifts in climate policy and what they could mean going forward.
Low Demand for Electric Vehicles
During the Biden era, several initiatives aimed to push consumers towards electric vehicles, including a $7,500 federal tax credit. California has set a goal for all new cars and light trucks sold by 2035 to be “zero-emissions.”
Yet, when gas prices surged in June 2022, then-Michigan State Senator Debbie Stabenow expressed that driving an electric vehicle made the cost of gas irrelevant.
But, how different things look now! In 2024, three major automakers in her state are expected to collectively lose $52 billion on electric vehicles—an amount greater than their total net profits combined.
Remember President Biden’s photo op at Ford with the new F-150 Lightning electric truck? Faced with falling demand, Ford recently paused production of the Lightning, stating, “American consumers have spoken loud and clear.”
That might be true. A recent article detailed how electric vehicle factories in the Rust Belt are running significantly under capacity and losing money, reflecting “America’s complicated exit from electric vehicles.” Even with some analysts speculating a rise in interest for EVs, the responses from politicians will reveal the real story.
Russian Oil Aiding Struggling Cuba
The situation in Iran casts a dark shadow over Cuba, which has experienced dire consequences since Miguel Díaz-Canel’s regime became more isolated following Maduro’s ousting in January. Cut off from affordable oil, the country is spiraling into a humanitarian crisis, with reports showing patients suffering in hospitals without power and ambulances halted due to fuel shortages.
Cuba depends on oil for over 90% of its electricity, with renewables making up just a small fraction. It got so critical that President Trump, often criticized for his perceived lack of empathy, allowed a Russian oil tanker to dock in Havana, stating, “We have to survive.”
Former Trump Energy Secretary Claims Biden Aims to Undermine Reliable Energy
In situations where basic human needs are at stake, environmental ideals often take a back seat.
American Energy Resilience Mitigates Challenges
While current gas prices are a burden, countries that are more reliant on external energy are feeling much worse. The Philippines recently shifted to a four-day work week due to the crisis, and Slovenia has begun rationing fuel—becoming the first nation in the EU to do so. Australia is facing fuel shortages, with 90% of its supply coming from the Middle East.
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In contrast, the situation in the U.S. is somewhat different. As domestic oil production ramps up, crude oil imports from the Persian Gulf have hit a 40-year low.
In the U.S., the price of natural gas remains relatively stable, while it has surged by about 70% in Europe and Asia, where it plays a crucial role in electricity supply.
President Trump deserves recognition for his emphasis on American energy independence.
This Earth Day might see the climate movement making some noise again, but it’s likely to sound quite different from what we’ve heard in recent years. The dramatic warnings like those from U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about climate destruction looming within twelve years seem to have quieted down.
In the realm of international relations, energy needs and national security are tightly intertwined—a reality that many rational Americans grasp. The climate movement seems to realize that, even now, their political narrative often overshadows practical common sense.
