If Trump undoes Biden's climate-focused energy projects, outgoing U.S. energy secretary warns of political malpractice.

• Jennifer Granholm, the outgoing U.S. Energy Secretary, praised the projects initiated under President Biden's green-focused legislation, stating that it would be politically irresponsible to reverse those chances as individuals are just beginning to be employed.
• According to her estimate, 80% of the funding from President Biden's legacy bills, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was allocated to districts represented by Republican leadership in the U.S.
• The focus of the international community is now on the future role of the U.S. in global climate policy, with Donald Trump set to begin his second term as President in January.

If Donald Trump decides to reverse the Biden administration's climate-focused initiatives, it could affect employment opportunities in regions controlled by his own party, as Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm advised consistency in Washington's green transition policies on CNBC.

During Trump's first term, Granholm stated that despite the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the country continued to move forward with green transition projects that were desired by members of Congress in their districts.

Currently, we are constructing all of these projects, including batteries for electric vehicles, vehicles, offshore wind turbines, and solar panels. These factories are located in districts of members of Congress, as she stated to CNBC's Dan Murphy on Friday at the COP29 U.N. climate conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to her estimate, 80% of the funding from President Biden's legacy bills, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was allocated to districts represented by Republican leadership in the U.S.

Undoing those opportunities would be politically irresponsible, as many people are just beginning to secure employment in the manufacturing sector, she emphasized, while highlighting the need for a clear climate policy direction from Washington, which is home to the world's largest economy and oil production.

"Let's maintain a consistent practice in the Paris Agreement, rather than shifting back and forth," she stated.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, stated that the president-elect will fulfill the promises he made during his campaign.

As Trump prepares for his second term as President, the international focus is on the future role of the U.S. in global climate policy. Trump, who has not yet announced his choice for head of the U.S. Department of Energy, has made hydrocarbons a central part of his campaigning agenda, promising to speed up federal drilling permits and leases to boost American oil and natural gas production.

In March, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that the country had been producing more crude oil than any nation for the past six years, with an average daily production of 12.9 million barrels in 2023, surpassing the previous U.S. and global record of 12.3 million barrels per day set in 2019 during Trump's first term.

On Friday, Granholm emphasized that the clean transition will occur regardless of who is in the White House and that ignoring climate change will put Washington at a disadvantage in the growing decarbonization industry.

"Why would we give up our position as a leading economic competitor to China?" she questioned. "They have a strategy to become the top economy, and if we step back, we will only lose that position. This is not a good strategy for the United States, workers, or communities across the country."

With the possibility of the U.S. exiting the Paris Agreement again, climate activists observe that the green transition has gained a new global momentum compared to during Trump's first presidency.

According to Dan Lashof, U.S. director of the World Resources Institute, it is clear that another Trump presidency will hinder national efforts to address the climate crisis and safeguard the environment. However, the majority of U.S. state, local, and private sector leaders remain determined to continue their progress.

"The rapid pace of the clean energy transition will not be halted by Donald Trump's return to the White House."

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been chosen by Trump's current entourage to head the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Elon Musk, his right-hand man, has been a strong advocate for products that address climate change. As the founder of, he has been at the forefront of this issue.

Over the years, Musk's stance on the environment has been questioned, as he has shifted from stating that climate change is the greatest threat of the century, except for AI, to advocating for carbon taxes, to arguing that the world requires hydrocarbon supplies as a transition to renewable energy.