Trump pick says US needs to 'adapt' to climate change

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

Trump pick says US needs to 'adapt' to climate change

President Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office in charge of climate change and air pollution said Wednesday that the U.S. should “adapt to” rather than try to minimize climate change.

Aaron Szabo’s comment came during questions from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) during his confirmation hearing Wednesday.

“What are key climate tipping points that you would watch in your position to try to avoid?” Whitehouse asked.

“I believe that the climate is changing. I believe that it is important for us to adapt to any change, including those that occur with respect to climate,” said Szabo, who, if confirmed, will lead the EPA’s Air and Radiation office.

“Not to mitigate to prevent it, just to adapt to it?” Whitehouse asked.

“I’m currently — and if confirmed — am bound by the laws that Congress has established,” Szabo replied.

Whitehouse then asked him if people are “now on a pathway to climate safety, or do we need to do more to reduce carbon emissions in order to get out of that pathway?”

“I believe that we need to be adapting to all changes, including those to the climate,” Szabo replied.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Quotes of note from President Trump’s joint address

Trump previewed a forthcoming minerals action, saying “later this week, I will also take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.” He did not elaborate.
He also vowed to take on environmental “toxins” saying “our goal is to get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong. However, he has also pledged to take a deregulatory stance and has appointed chemical industry alumni to key roles in his administration.
He said his administration is “working on a gigantic natural gas pipeline in Alaska,” saying Japan, South Korea and other nations “want to be our partner with investments of trillions of dollars."

Essential Reads

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

State Department halts global air pollution monitoring program

The State Department will no longer share data about foreign air pollution under a program that it says is designed to help U.S. personnel and travelers abroad.

Full Story

Supreme Court appears divided on offsite nuclear waste storage

The Supreme Court appeared split Wednesday on the question of whether the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the authority to license private, temporary offsite storage of nuclear waste.

Full Story

Stacey Abrams invokes Musk in rebuking Trump allegations

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams defended herself after President Trump invoked her name in his address Tuesday night to a joint session of Congress.

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Federal board orders USDA to temporarily reinstate dismissed probationary workers

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily reinstate all probationary employees fired by the Trump administration.

Full Story

What We're Reading

News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

El Paso Is Going to Turn Wastewater Into Drinking Water. Other Cities Will Soon Follow (Inside Climate News)
Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from 36 fossil fuel firms, study shows (The Guardian)
Nuclear Power’s Revival Is Here. What Do You Do With All the Radioactive Waste? (The Wall Street Journal)

On Tap

Upcoming news themes and events we're watching:

The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on the Fix our Forests Act and reducing wildfires.

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

Democrats suffer Trump joint address hangover: ‘Self owns and unhinged petulance’

Democrats woke up furious the morning after some sought to bring the fight to President Trump during his address Tuesday to a joint session Congress, arguing their protests had backfired and underscored why their party lost November’s election in the first place. Read more

Trump administration plans to cut 80,000 jobs from VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is planning to cut 80,000 jobs as part of an “aggressive” reorganization of the agency this summer, according to The Associated Press, which cited an internal memo it obtained. Read more

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!

Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage.

Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩

Topics

EPA nominee says US should adapt to, not mitigate, climate change

President Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office in charge of climate change and air pollution said Wednesday that the U.S. should “adapt to” rather than try to ...
The Hill - 12h
‘Cruel and thoughtless’: Trump fires hundreds at US climate agency Noaa

Employees informed by email that their jobs would be cut off at end of day in move a worker called ‘wrong all around’. Don’t let a billionaire’s algorithm control what you read. Download our free ...
The Guardian - 6d
Trump Uses Lies to Lay the Groundwork for Radical Change

Condoms for Gaza? Ukraine started the war with Russia? The president’s manipulations of the truth lay the groundwork for radical change.
The New York Times - Feb. 23
US needs role in Ukraine to deter Putin, says PM

The PM stresses the importance of US help but Trump suggests responsibility lies with Europe.
BBC News - Feb. 26
Trump has changed Ukraine conversation, Starmer says

The PM suggests Trump has "created an opportunity" to end the war, ahead of a trip the the US.
BBC News - Feb. 24
Trump changed conversation on Ukraine ‘for the better’, says UK

Keir Starmer reiterates Britain is ‘ready and willing’ to put troops on the ground in Ukraine to secure peace
Financial Times - Feb. 24
How animals can help fight climate change

It's widely known that humans' use of fossil fuels has contributed to the increase of planet-warming greenhouse gases. But animals might hold a key in combating climate change. Researchers on ...
CBS News - Feb. 22
Poll: 70 Percent of Americans Believe In Climate Change

A new AP poll shows that Americans are catching on.
Inc. - 5d
Trump needs a lesson on the Monroe Doctrine for US-Colombia relations

The decline of positive U.S. engagement in Colombia had already contributed to the spread of faux-democratic thinking and disinformation-fueled populism throughout the hemisphere.
The Hill - Feb. 25

More from The Hill

Walz calls Trump address 'reality TV'

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Wednesday slammed President Trump’s address to Congress in an interview on CNN, referring to the speech as “reality TV.” “Look, it was what I expected, it was reality ...
The Hill - 3h
New Mexico Democrat says 'This is not normal' sign at Trump address was 'an SOS to the world'

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said during an interview that her “This is not normal” sign she held up near President Trump right before his Tuesday night speech to Congress was an “SOS to the ...
The Hill - 3h
House Republicans gush over DOGE in meeting with Musk

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk met with House Republicans Wednesday night to update them on work done by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as the newly created group takes ...
The Hill - 4h
Is Social Security money going to 'millions' of people listed as old as 149?

Trump drew laughs during his congressional address Tuesday when he alleged that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had millions of beneficiaries listed at 140 years of age and older. But is ...
The Hill - 4h
GOP lawmaker holding town hall despite advice to avoid them: 'I trust my constituents'

Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) said Wednesday he’s holding a town hall despite House Republicans being recently pushed to avoid in-person town halls and do phone or livestreamed ones instead. “I'm ...
The Hill - 5h

More in Politics

Walz calls Trump address 'reality TV'

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Wednesday slammed President Trump’s address to Congress in an interview on CNN, referring to the speech as “reality TV.” “Look, it was what I expected, it was reality ...
The Hill - 3h
New Mexico Democrat says 'This is not normal' sign at Trump address was 'an SOS to the world'

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said during an interview that her “This is not normal” sign she held up near President Trump right before his Tuesday night speech to Congress was an “SOS to the ...
The Hill - 3h
House Republicans gush over DOGE in meeting with Musk

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk met with House Republicans Wednesday night to update them on work done by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as the newly created group takes ...
The Hill - 4h
Is Social Security money going to 'millions' of people listed as old as 149?

Trump drew laughs during his congressional address Tuesday when he alleged that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had millions of beneficiaries listed at 140 years of age and older. But is ...
The Hill - 4h
GOP lawmaker holding town hall despite advice to avoid them: 'I trust my constituents'

Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) said Wednesday he’s holding a town hall despite House Republicans being recently pushed to avoid in-person town halls and do phone or livestreamed ones instead. “I'm ...
The Hill - 5h