Trump Delivers Economic Policy Speech, Ignores America’s Biggest Economic Opportunity

SAN FRANCISCO—Donald Trump delivered an economic policy speech today in Detroit as part of the latest desperate attempt to revive his failing campaign. The Trump economic agenda—developed by Trump’s all-male, all-white Economic Advisory Team—doubles down on dirty fossil fuels and ignores the enormous economic opportunities presented by clean energy.

“Donald Trump isn’t just failing to address the massive threat of climate change—he’s failing to harness America’s biggest economic opportunity,” said NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer. “There is nothing ‘new’ or ‘fresh’ about putting polluter profits ahead of our health and economic well being. Trump would only be Making America Great Again for Big Polluters.”

By ignoring the growth of America’s clean energy economy, the Trump Economic Agenda is ignoring these five crucial facts:

  1. Climate change will decrease U.S. GDP by 5% by 2050 and 36% by 2100.

  2. According to Citigroup, climate change will decrease global GDP $44 trillion by 2060.

  3. For the eighth consecutive year, extreme weather has cost U.S. taxpayers over $10 billion.

  4. Transitioning to a 100% clean energy economy by 2050 will create 2 million new jobs, grow our economy by $290 billion, and lower energy bills by $41 billion.

  5. The U.S. solar industry alone employs over 209,000 individuals, which is more than the fossil fuel extraction industry. The solar industry added 35,000 new jobs in 2015 alone and solar jobs have seen a 123% increase since 2010.

According to a recent study from ICF International, transitioning to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 would create more than 2 million net new jobs, increase household income and reduce energy bills for families across the country.