Trump might be the environmental president we need

A caterpillar undulates. It compresses its rear pairs of legs into the air, moves the last pair of legs forward on the ground as it lifts its next two pairs of legs, and continues the wavelike motion to move forward. When a caterpillar only lifts and extends its front end, it can explore its surroundings. But to move forward, it must put its head back down and lift its rear legs first.

These past eight years, President Barack Obama's presidency stretched, strained, and latched onto climate change initiatives like the Clean Power Plan and Paris Agreement. While many believed Obama gained ground on the fight against climate change, this election showed us that America's rear legs never moved.

The rear legs are the American citizens who will power the country forward, but also will attach themselves and refuse to let go when faced with adversity. Today, these citizens see the adverse effects of climate change, but not through sea level rise or extreme weather. Instead, these Americans feel personally attacked, their jobs and communities at risk because they have depended for their livelihoods on industries that contribute to climate change, industries like Appalachia's coal, Texas's oil, and the Midwest's biofuels.

These citizens shaped their livelihoods around what they believed were challenging yet honorable careers, ones vital for America's energy needs. Now governmental intervention and alternative energy development suggest to these citizens that their work is only perpetuating an unhealthy addiction that must end. These Americans see a country extending onward without them, so they latched on and now refuse to be dragged forward.

America's reliance on carbon-intensive fuels must end quickly, but before these citizens can move forward, they must trust that their leader will keep them as a driving force. Obama reached forward through executive orders in the face of failed congressional action, but the failed congressional action was a symptom of American distrust. The process to phase out significant greenhouse gas emitters must begin with the lives that depend on these industries.

The Americans who stand as the rear legs in this metaphor trust Trump. Trump connected with the hard working and humble Americans in the energy industry because he voiced their fears. He questioned climate change, promoted coal, and expressed his displeasure for regulatory constraints. Trump earned their trust by defending their livelihoods, and the trust remains even though Trump displays significant flexibility with his energy policy vision.

As a result, Trump is in a position to make the biggest environmental difference since President Nixon. Trump's unwavering support from his constituents and his policy flexibility allow him to move ahead with unprecedented freedom, and his self-financed campaign and detachment from the Republican establishment further distance him from outside interests.

Critics will say Trump's environmental advisers are climate deniers, but Trump has demonstrated how little 'expert” advice motivates him. Trump's ego alone drives his decisions. Nixon, another Republican, established the EPA because he both recognized America's imminent environmental dangers and sought to undercut his opponent's environmental platform come re-election. Similarly, Trump knows climate change is threat to America, and he surely recognizes that future generations will consider him a hero should he decide to face it.

With Trump taking the presidency, America has its best opportunity yet to slow climate change. Trump has the trust of the needed constituents and is free to shape policy as he pleases. I am hopeful that when Trump discovers this is how he can secure this legacy, he will motivate those rear legs to finally lift up and undulate, moving America forward.

' Eric Dirth holds a master's degree in Environmental Advocacy from James Madison University and is studying environmental law and policy at the University of Iowa College of Law.