In a bold move on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed executive actions to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement and prioritize fossil fuel production. This decision comes as wildfires fueled by climate change rage across Southern California, following the hottest year on record globally. Trump’s actions aim to reverse clean energy policies and boost oil, gas, and mineral mining. He declared a “national energy emergency,” vowing to cut regulations that he claims hinder energy production. “We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump said during his inauguration speech, emphasizing his focus on lowering energy costs to combat inflation. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, set a global goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius—a threshold scientists say is critical to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. Last year, the planet surpassed this mark, raising alarms among experts. Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement has sparked concerns about the U.S.’s reliability in international climate efforts. Critics argue that Trump’s policies could harm the environment without significantly lowering energy prices. The U.S. is already the world’s top oil producer, and analysts note that market forces, not government action, largely dictate oil production. “A president can’t cut oil prices,” said one energy expert, pointing out the limited impact of such policies. Trump also plans to roll back electric vehicle (EV) incentives, claiming they hurt the auto industry. However, EV sales in the U.S. remain a small fraction of total vehicle sales, and experts say ending tax credits could benefit Tesla while reducing competition from other automakers. Despite Trump’s actions, some states are stepping up. Governors from New York and New Mexico announced plans to lead a U.S. delegation to the 2025 UN climate talks, signaling continued climate action at the state level. “The door remains open to the Paris Agreement,” a UN official said, urging global cooperation on clean energy. As the debate over energy and climate policy heats up, one thing is clear: the U.S. is at a crossroads in its approach to addressing the climate crisis.