WASHINGTON, Nov 7: Experts warn that Donald Trump’s historic victory to the White House may hinder immediate climate action, although the long-term effects remain uncertain. The victory comes at a time when a little more than 45% of the US and Puerto Rico is in drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.
As global leaders prepare to gather at next week’s COP29 UN climate summit, Trump’s election is a major obstacle to advancing emission reductions and financial support for developing countries.
During his campaign for the presidency, Trump has called climate change “a big hoax”, bashed wind energy and electric cars, and vowed to cut down environmental regulations underpinned during Biden’s administration, The Guardian writes.
Trump, who has previously voiced skepticism about climate change and criticized renewable energy efforts, is expected to prioritize oil and gas over green energy. However, his impact may be somewhat limited with renewable energy gaining traction in the U.S. and strong public support for wind and solar.
Trump Victory & Climate Action
Unlike in his 2017 term, Trump’s actions on climate this time could have more lasting effects. In 2017, he announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the landmark global pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, due to the agreement’s timelines, the withdrawal was only finalized in 2020, just before he left office.
If he pulls out of the accord again, the U.S. could be fully out within a year, allowing Trump three years to operate independently of UN climate requirements.
At the upcoming COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, the Biden administration’s negotiators will attend, but their agreements may be rendered void under Trump’s leadership.
Richard Klein, a climate policy expert from the Stockholm Environment Institute, noted that this limits the U.S.’s influence, potentially deterring other major players, like China, from making significant commitments. Recent years have seen wealthier countries, including the U.S., advocate for increased funding to help developing countries mitigate climate impacts, with expectations for contributions from larger developing nations. Without U.S. backing, however, such funding initiatives could falter, leaving many developing countries with reduced financial support to address climate challenges.
