Trump's return as US President raises concerns among climate advocates worldwide

The recent election of Donald Trump as the next US President has sparked widespread concern among environmentalists and climate advocates across the globe. Leading environmental figures and organisations have voiced apprehensions over potential impacts on climate action and international collaboration.

Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, described Trump's election as a setback for global climate efforts, yet emphasised the resilience of the Paris Agreement. She pointed out that several US cities and states, representing a substantial portion of the population, are already implementing proactive climate initiatives.

Furthermore, Tubiana highlighted Europe's role in championing climate action and the importance of continued cooperation with global allies.

In Germany, Jennifer Morgan stressed the urgency of working with the new US administration to tackle mutual climate challenges. She reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to climate neutrality and fair competition in green industries, signalling a strong stance on maintaining environmental standards.

Christiana Figueres, former Executive Director of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), expressed optimism that the global transition to decarbonisation would persist despite political shifts. Figueres argued that the rapid move towards clean energy technologies is now unstoppable and driven by global grassroots actions, which are set to continue irrespective of the US administration's stance on climate.

Leaders from Africa, including Raila Odinga and Alexandre Gubert Lette, voiced particular concern for the continent, which is disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions. They urged the US to sustain its leadership in climate finance, a critical resource for developing nations grappling with climate impacts.

In the US, climate experts such as Gina McCarthy, former White House Climate Advisor, expressed their readiness to counter any federal rollbacks in climate policies.

McCarthy stressed the importance of protecting the Inflation Reduction Act and bolstering state-level and private sector efforts to sustain momentum in climate initiatives, regardless of federal direction.

Prominent global voices, including Yao Zhe of Greenpeace East Asia and Dr Arunabha Ghosh of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), reiterated the necessity of international cooperation. They noted that the push for clean energy solutions is driven by economic and technological imperatives, making it a resilient global trend that transcends political changes.

As countries prepare for COP29, the pressure mounts on the US to uphold its global climate commitments. Advocacy groups, former leaders, and environmentalists worldwide are calling for stronger solidarity to address climate challenges that cross borders and politics.