With the upcoming COP29 UN climate summit just days away, experts express significant concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s anticipated approach to climate policy. Trump’s re-election poses immediate challenges for climate action, especially in efforts to reduce emissions and secure funding for climate adaptation in developing nations.
The President-elect, known for his skepticism about climate change, previously described green energy initiatives as a “scam” and has a history of supporting fossil fuels. Experts warn that his administration could reverse progress made in clean energy investments, potentially stalling projects in favor of expanding oil and gas exploration.
Back in 2017, Trump’s decision to pull the US from the Paris Agreement dealt a heavy blow to international climate efforts. However, due to procedural delays, the US exit was only finalized late in his term. Should he withdraw again, the process would be faster, allowing the US to exit the agreement within a year and operate independently for the remainder of his term.
Climate experts, including Prof. Richard Klein of the Stockholm Environment Institute, believe that Trump’s stance could discourage other major emitters like China from making further commitments. This is a setback for international funding initiatives meant to help developing countries achieve net-zero emissions and cope with climate impacts.
Domestically, Trump’s administration is expected to promote fossil fuel expansion, relax environmental protections, and potentially impose tariffs on imported green technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels from China. Dan Eberhart, CEO of oilfield services company Canary LLC, predicts a “drill baby drill” era, with increased oil and gas extraction, expedited pipeline projects, and more fracking on federal lands.
Despite these anticipated challenges, the long-term outlook for renewable energy growth in the US remains uncertain. Factors such as bipartisan support for green investments, exemplified by Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, and strong economic momentum in clean energy could mitigate Trump’s policy shifts. The International Energy Agency reports that global clean technology investment is now double that of fossil fuels, suggesting that the transition to a low-carbon economy may be resilient to short-term political changes.
While climate advocates acknowledge the election result as a “major blow” to global climate progress, they remain hopeful that ongoing market and technological trends will continue to drive decarbonization. As former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres noted, “The election cannot and will not halt the changes underway to decarbonize the economy and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
IAN BYRON