Biden: “The energy revolution in the United States is irreversible”

From the Amazon, Joe Biden affirmed that the transition to clean energy is a major achievement for the United States, addressing an indirect message to Donald Trump, the next occupant of the White House.

Share:

President Joe Biden used a historic visit to the Amazon in Brazil to reaffirm his commitment to the energy transition. This symbolic trip, just weeks before the end of his term, represents a significant moment in his fight against climate change.

A Historic Visit to the Amazon

Joe Biden became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon, a region often referred to as the “lungs of the planet.” Speaking in Manaus, he emphasized the need to continue efforts to protect the environment, particularly in the face of the challenges posed by climate change.

“I am leaving my successor with a solid foundation to build upon,” he stated, highlighting the progress made during his administration in terms of environmental policy.

A Political Challenge Under Tension

This statement comes amid a politically charged atmosphere. Donald Trump, who will take office in January, has vowed to roll back several climate initiatives. His agenda includes expanding fossil fuel exploitation and potentially withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, which he abandoned during his first term before Joe Biden rejoined it.

The Democratic president warned against these intentions, asserting that the clean energy revolution is now “irreversible” in the United States. He also stressed the critical importance of climate change issues for the future of humanity.

Significant Advances Under Biden

During his tenure in the White House, Joe Biden significantly increased investments in renewable energy and green technologies. He enacted legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating jobs in sectors tied to clean energy. These efforts have been praised by many environmental organizations but remain contested by certain traditional economic sectors.

An Uncertain Energy Future

While the energy transition advanced under the Biden administration, uncertainties loom over the direction of U.S. climate policy under Donald Trump. The latter has frequently expressed skepticism regarding scientific evidence of climate change.

Biden concluded his speech in the Amazon by urging world leaders to “keep up their efforts” to protect the planet. According to him, the fight against climate change remains “the only existential threat to humanity.”

A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
French greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a global slowdown in reductions forecast for the full year, according to Citepa, an independent organisation responsible for national monitoring.
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.