From its outset, the Trump administration equably pursued an anti-environmental agenda. It denied climate change and withdrew the United States from the Paris climate accords; it reversed or weakened regulations protective of the environment; it exposed previously protected natural areas to exploitation. See, e.g., Eric Lipton, “Trump Unlocks Federal Lands in a Final Rush,” New York Times, 1 (Dec. 20, 2020); Nadja Popovich et al., “All 98 Environmental Rules the Trump Administration Is Revoking or Rolling Back,” New York Times, 28-29 (May 10, 2020).

The Biden administration has begun to undo its predecessor’s policies. Future administrations, however, might again pursue an anti-environmental course, relegating anew ecological concerns to secondary status. See, e.g., Lisa Friedman, “In Swift Actions Focused on Climate, Interior Department Reverses Trump Policies,” New York Times, A12 (March 3, 2021); Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman, “Rejoining Paris Accord Tops Moves on Climate,” New York Times, A21 (Jan. 21, 2021).