Selin Discusses Climate Policy Implications Following Trump Victory with French Media
In an interview with French environmental news outlet Reporterre on November 6, 2024, Henrik Selin, Professor of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and specialist in environmental cooperation, analyzed the implications of Donald Trump’s election victory for America’s landmark climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This historic $369 billion climate investment includes crucial funding for drought resilience, land restoration, and climate adaptation for vulnerable communities.
As various environmental experts weighed in, Selin provided a measured analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act’s future under a second Trump presidency. “Elle a déjà prouvé son efficacité, en matière d’emplois créés. Il ne voudra pas et ne pourra pas la supprimer facilement” [“It (the IRA) has already proven its effectiveness in terms of jobs created. He won’t want to and won’t be able to easily eliminate it”], Selin explained, suggesting that the IRA’s proven track record in job creation makes it difficult to dismantle entirely.
This assessment came as other experts in the report, including University of Michigan’s Samuel Stolper, warned of “un changement énorme” [“an enormous change”] in U.S. environmental protection trajectory. While some predicted dramatic rollbacks in climate policy, Selin’s analysis suggested certain climate initiatives may prove more resilient than expected due to their economic benefits.
The French media coverage captured a pivotal moment in American climate policy, documenting real-time reactions as key swing states including North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania reported results. The article placed Selin’s expertise alongside perspectives from environmental leaders and academics across the United States, providing crucial context for understanding the future of U.S. climate action.
Henrik Selin has been at Boston University since 2004. His research and teaching focus on global and regional politics and policymaking on the environment and sustainable development. He is the author of Mercury Stories: Understanding Sustainability through a Volatile Element, European Union Environmental Governance, and Global Governance of Hazardous Chemicals: Challenges of Multilevel Management. He is also the author and co-author of more than four dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He also serves as Editor for the journal Global Environmental Politics. Learn more about Professor Selin on his faculty profile.