World leaders gather in Baku, Azerbaijan for COP29 amid apprehensions about the United States' retracting its climate commitments following Trump's election. With experts warning of worsening climate conditions, the anticipated shift towards a pro-fossil fuel agenda poses a significant challenge to global climate negotiations.
Trump’s Victory Looms Over Global Climate Summit in Azerbaijan
Trump’s Victory Looms Over Global Climate Summit in Azerbaijan
As world leaders convene in Baku for COP29, Trump's win raises concerns about the future of U.S. commitment to climate initiatives.
World leaders are set to convene in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the United Nations’ COP29 climate summit under a cloud of uncertainty. Following Donald J. Trump’s recent election victory, diplomats are bracing for a significant withdrawal of U.S. engagement in global climate initiatives, specifically in the light of Trump's administration's previous disdain for climate science.
The U.S., historically the highest emitter of greenhouse gases, faces the prospect of abandoning its commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, which Trump has previously dismissed as "horrendous." The shift in U.S. priorities is anticipated to undermine global efforts to cap rising temperatures at a critical moment when climate scientists stress the need for immediate and drastic cuts in emissions to avert catastrophic climate impacts.
Moreover, the incoming Trump administration is likely to retreat from providing financial assistance to developing countries grappling with climate catastrophes, despite these nations being among the least responsible for global warming. The financing issue is a key agenda item at the two-week summit, with expectations that wealthy countries should help poorer nations adapt and mitigate climate-change-related disasters.
Contrasting with the pledged transition away from fossil fuels by numerous countries last year, Trump’s approach is expected to push for increased fossil fuel exploitation, promising to expand U.S. coal consumption and maintain the country’s position as a leading exporter of natural gas. This focus on fossil fuels jeopardizes the collective goal of climate action, revealing a striking divergence from earlier commitments made by previous U.S. leaders.
