Trump’s Bad COP
A Dark Shadow Over the Climate Change Conference
Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election has cast a dark shadow over the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku. Having made no secret of his belief that climate change is a “hoax,” Trump’s return to power threatens to undo much of the progress made in combating the climate crisis, leaving global leaders and policymakers with ample reason to feel disheartened.
Ramping Up Fossil-Fuel Production
Trump is expected to ramp up domestic fossil-fuel production. During a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in May, he openly asked for US$1 billion in campaign contributions from oil and gas executives in exchange for promising to roll back regulations threatening their profits. His pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, former congressman Lee Zeldin, has already vowed to “deregulate” the EPA.
Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
During his first term, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Paris climate agreement – a decision later reversed by his successor, Joe Biden. He is widely expected to withdraw from it again.
Argentina’s Withdrawal
Notably, Argentine president Javier Milei, Trump’s political ally, recalled his country’s delegation from COP29 – a move that may signal Argentina’s imminent departure from the accord.
Leaders’ Absence
The mood at COP29 was further dampened by the conspicuous absence of global leaders like Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Chinese president Xi Jinping, all of whom skipped this year’s summit.
Avoiding Catastrophe
But the fight against climate change is not necessarily doomed. The ability to avert catastrophe will depend on the global response to Trump’s obstructionism and whether other countries can come together to confront the crisis, even without US leadership.
The US’s Reluctance to Climate Action
It is also worth noting that the US has long been a reluctant participant in global climate initiatives, regardless of who occupies the White House. This reluctance is hardly surprising, given its position as the world’s largest producer and net exporter of fossil fuels.
A Focus on Economic Advantage
As Indian journalist Nitin Sethi has noted, the US approach to climate negotiations has been to “retain, reinforce, and gain new competitive economic advantage,” wielding “climate language as a tool” to advance its national interests.
Avoiding Climate Reparations
This helps explain many of America’s policy positions. Over the years, the US has blocked discussions on climate reparations and shifted the burden of mitigation and financing onto emerging economies like China and India while subjecting them to intense scrutiny.
Conclusion
The fight against climate change is not necessarily doomed, but it requires the global response to Trump’s obstructionism and the willingness of other countries to come together to confront the crisis. The US’s reluctance to climate action is rooted in its pursuit of economic advantage, and it is crucial for the global community to recognize this reality.
FAQs
* What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is an international accord aimed at mitigating climate change by reducing global greenhouse-gas emissions and limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
* What is the US’s position on climate change?
The US has been a reluctant participant in global climate initiatives, prioritizing its economic interests over climate action.
* What is the impact of a second Trump presidency on climate change?
A second Trump presidency could undo much of the progress made in combating climate change, but it could also prompt other countries to take action, leading to a cleaner-energy transition.
* How can the global community respond to Trump’s obstructionism?
The global community can respond by promoting transparency and accountability, prioritizing feasible near-term goals over distant targets, and making genuine, well-defined, and transparent climate-financing commitments.