The US election results are out and Donald J Trump, whose stance on the climate crisis is known to downplay the urgency for climate action, will lead the United States once again.
The former president and convicted felon, trumped over Vice President Kamala Harris in a tightly contested election to clinch the presidency with a stunning political comeback.
What you need to know
- One of the most controversial actions during his first term as president was the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, a global pact that unites nearly all countries to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. A step he took just six months into office in 2017.
- Trump’s win comes just a few days before the biggest climate summit, the 2024 United Nations 29th Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP29) which kicks off from Monday 11th to Friday 22nd November in Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Trump’s Presidency may backtrack any progress made in the US, and globally, to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. His actions might cause jitters to environmentalists across the world.
The Paris Agreement
The US rejoined the Paris Agreement under the outgoing President Biden administration and has been a significant source of climate financing, especially for developing nations.
In May 2024, Kenya and the US entered into climate projects focused on clean energy, during President William Ruto’s visit to Washington where he met US President Joe Biden. It’s during his tenure that he restored 100 climate-related projects that had been neglected by Trump’s administration.
However, if Trump decides to make it an agenda, it will take the US, one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, a whole year to fully exit the Paris Agreement.
In his policy, Agenda47 blueprint, Trump plans to re-introduce dependence on fossil fuels to cut down gas prices. His predecessor did the opposite by increasing the prices by half to cut down emissions from fossil fuels.
Ironically, despite the destructive impacts of climate change worldwide, the climate crisis did not take center stage in the campaign. Clean energy policies were sidelined and barely appeared in the wider election discourse. Donald Trump aggressively vowed to support the expansion of oil and gas with remarks to “drill baby drill”
Yet in the months preceding the elections, Hurricane Helene and Milton wreaked havoc in the state of Florida and 32% of the voters affected states supported climate change would be a more important factor in their decision. Climate experts have warned that climate change is accelerating conditions for extreme weather events like Hurricanes.
Jennifer Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, Germany said in her statement, “We will work with the next US administration whenever possible to strengthen the international rules-based order and deal with shared security challenges, including climate crisis. For Germany and the EU, the transition to climate neutrality is a foundation of our future competitiveness. We will therefore work with all partners across all levels of government, civil society, and the private sector on the swift and full implementation of the Paris Agreement.”
Climate expert Laurence Tubiana, CEO, of the European Climate Foundation, reflected on what Trump’s presidency will mean for this year’s COP and beyond.
“The US election result is a blow in the fight against the climate crisis. But let’s not despair. The Paris Agreement has proven resilient, stronger than any single country’s policies. The context today is very different from 2016. There is powerful economic momentum behind the global transition, which the US has led and gained from, but now risks forfeiting. The devastating toll of recent hurricanes is a grim reminder that all Americans are affected by worsening climate change. Europe now has an opportunity and the responsibility to step up and lead. Pushing forward with a fair and balanced transition, in close partnership with others, can show that ambitious climate action protects people, strengthens economies, and builds resilience.”
The global energy transition is inevitable and it’s already accelerating in many countries regardless of US political winds.
Ana Toni, Secretary for Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil noted that, “The fight against climate change is a long-term commitment of all governments and a necessity for humanity. National elections or geopolitical tensions can affect global climate governance, but we have a collective responsibility to maintain and strengthen the international multilateral climate framework. Brazil will do its part and will continue to work with all governments, as well as all the other relevant players from the private sector and civil society to pursue this goal.”
Statement by Raila Odinga, AUC Chairperson Candidate
Raila Odinga, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya and candidate for African Union Commission chairperson pointed out that climate negotiations at the COP29 in Baku, happening at the timing of US elections is a perfect opportunity for the US to step up and be a global steward of the planet.
‘Actions of the United States on climate change at home and globally will shape how Africa, a continent that is least responsible for the climate crisis yet suffering the most from climate impacts, will navigate its development path, deliver energy access to over 600 million people who are without electricity access today. Climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku, coming on the back of the US elections, is a perfect opportunity for the US to step up and be a global steward of the planet. At COP29, the US must lead from the front, and support the delivery of ambitious grants-based and highly concessional climate finance to the trillions of dollars required to meet the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries and compensate for the losses of damages in a timely and transparent manner’. He spoke.
Julius Mbatia, the Climate Finance Expert ACT Alliance, says, “We are all in boats being buffeted by the same challenge but different circumstances of countries means some of us are barely afloat as they have mega, technologically modified vessels. COP29 in Baku must address fundamental barriers to enhancing ambition and breaking through serious financial challenges of developing countries to tackle the climate crisis, climate change knows no national or geopolitical boundaries, and ambition in finance would mean higher financial provision and will lower the cost of finance to achieve climate and development objectives for regions such as Africa.”
US Election Outcome; Major Setback to Climate Action
Climate experts react
Christina Figueres, UN climate chief 2010-2016 had this to say, “The result from this election will be seen as a major blow to global climate action, but it cannot and will not halt the changes underway to decarbonize the economy and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Standing with oil and gas is the same as falling behind in a fast fast-moving world. Clean energy technologies will continue to out-compete fossil fuels, not because they are healthier, faster, cleaner, and more abundant, but because they undercut fossil fuels where they are at their weakest, their unsolvable volatility and inefficiency. Meanwhile, the vital work happening in communities everywhere to regenerate our planet and societies will continue with a new, even more determined spirit. Being here in South Africa for the Earthshot Prize makes clear that there is an antidote to doom and despair. It’s action on the ground, and it’s happening in all corners of the Earth.”
Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, and former IPCC author wrote that, “The election of a climate denier to the US Presidency is extremely dangerous for the world. We are already experiencing extreme damage, loss of life, and destruction of property around the world due to human-induced global warming. President Trump will not be above the laws of physics and nor will the country that he leads. If Trump follows through with his threat to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the biggest loser will be the United States. We have been there before – the US withdrawal in the first Trump presidency did not cause the agreement to collapse, as some pundits predicted.
Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi narrated that, “The outcome of the US election is consequential for the climate. Efforts to fight against and mitigate climate change effects on the world, and developing countries in particular hang in the balance. As a global superpower, we expect the US to do the right thing for the sake of the world and the generations to come.
Yao Zhe, Global Policy Advisor, Greenspace East Asia, “Once again, China finds itself at a pivotal moment. Expectations are high that China will join key nations in reassuring the world that climate action will continue. In practical terms, a new NDC that outlines clear actions to transition away from fossil fuels will provide the world with the reassurance it needs. Climate played a crucial role in stabilizing US-China relations during the Biden time. The Trump administration may undo some of the climate diplomacy gains of recent years, but US-China climate cooperation will continue at the subnational level and among non-state actors.”
However, despite the gloomy future that has overwhelmed the former president’s return to the Whitehouse, study data by Pew Research Centre shows that the majority of Americans prefer investing in renewable energy, and during Trump’s first tenure presidency, clean energy was highly embraced in the US.
