President Donald Trump's second vow has filed several executive orders to the country, especially the island of Puerto Rico on U.S. territory. Many of these actions eliminated policies implemented during the administration of Presidents Barak Obama and Joe Biden, who sought to reduce the impact of global warming. Furthermore, these orders attempt to reduce federal financing for science, technology and the environment.
One of the executive orders that affect the entire planet is the executive order to establish the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change in the United States. Through this decision, the United States will stop emitting its greenhouse gases by 2050, which can actually increase such emissions. This change occurs at the frequency and severity of heat waves, record accumulation of climate pollutants in the atmosphere, and in 2024, it was a year marked by catastrophic hurricanes such as Berill, Helen and Milton , which caused millionaires damage and numerous victims.
Another impact on the Paris Agreement exit is that the United States will no longer have an obligation to fund funds aimed at funding for energy transitions in developing countries. This limits the possibility that these countries will reach their net zero emission target by 2050. This, in turn, may cause other developed countries to delay their implementation.
Increased carbon and carbon dioxide emissions have direct effects on global climate change, which will lead to an increase in the average temperature of the planet, which is higher than what is considered insured. In Puerto Rico, this will accelerate sea level increase, affecting numerous coastal communities that lose dozens of meters of beaches each year. As extreme heat can intensify, especially affecting our elderly and children, this rise in sea levels and public health, as well as this rise in public health, will also be threatened by critical infrastructure.
Another executive order signed by Trump has banned the construction of new marine wind energy facilities, while promoting nuclear power generation by creating mini reactors nationwide. This limits the possibility of Puerto Rico's development of renewable energy, given our territorial restrictions and land use conflicts. The high seismicity on the island, including the island, poses considerable risks to nuclear energy.
On the other hand, one of the measures declared an energy emergency only for fossil energy sources and plants that use them, while the other eliminates subsidies for renewable energy. These decisions delay the transition to clean energy in the United States and Puerto Rico, while extending the use of fossil fuels, resulting in an increase in carbon dioxide and methane emissions, thereby increasing global temperatures.
Compared to the mainland US statement, the disproportionate impact Puerto Rico will suffer before the new federal policy is essential. Greenhouse gas emissions, the archipelago must take steps to protect lives, property and critical infrastructure to ensure the viability of our society.
Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico with a Category 4 storm on September 20, 2017, with devastating consequences. Its role is catastrophic and severely affects the electrical system, which causes power outages across the island to last for more than three months. It is five times more likely to occur during Hurricane Maria to pass through Puerto Rico. Communications and water networks are also severely affected. This tragedy underscores the vulnerability of our infrastructure to face new climate challenges, resulting in the indirect death of more than 3,000 people.
Additionally, President Trump will consider eliminating the possibility of federal emergency management agencies, meaning that in emergencies, federal aid can flow directly to states, as Puerto Rico is just U.S. territory. FEMA helped repair the island’s roads, bridges, water facilities and other key components. The lack of sufficient funds for the free state of Puerto Rico and its municipalities to carry out this recovery will pose a danger to the island’s population and be totally homeless.
On the other hand, in Puerto Rico, the Experts and Advisory Board is for the purpose of creating mitigation, adaptation and adaptation to Puerto Rico climate change, and the plan is a crucial tool that we must implement urgently as it was conducted in the Puerto Rican legislature in April 2024. Discussion and approval. The new legislature and the governor of Puerto Rico must consider this plan and prepare us properly for the challenges raised by global warming.