Inside the 2024 US Election: How the Presidency Was Decided!
Donald Trump Elected 47th U.S. President: A Potential Roadblock to Climate Progress, as EU Prepares to Take Lead
In a dramatic comeback, Donald Trump has won the 2024 U.S. presidential election, returning to office after a turbulent first term marked by controversies and challenges.
Trump’s victory has altered the American political landscape and is raising significant questions about the future of global climate efforts.
Trump’s presidency brings concerns over the U.S.’s role in tackling climate change, especially regarding commitments made under the Paris Agreement.
Environmental organizations, including Norway’s Bellona Foundation, have expressed deep concern, viewing Trump’s return as a major setback for international climate goals and the aim to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
During his initial term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, citing economic burdens and what he perceived as an unfair impact on American interests.
Though President Biden rejoined the accord in 2021 and enacted policies to reduce carbon emissions and boost green energy, Bellona warns that Trump’s policies could reverse much of this progress.
Bellona’s founder, Frederic Hauge, remarked that Trump’s victory signals a withdrawal of U.S. leadership in the global climate movement. “The election of Donald Trump means the U.S. will no longer be a global leader in the climate fight,” Hauge stated, adding that Europe must take on an even greater responsibility for the climate agenda.
With the EU already committed to ambitious goals, such as the Green Deal to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050, Europe may now bear the brunt of global climate leadership. This shift has significant implications for energy security, green technology development, and Europe’s role in guiding climate solutions on the world stage.
As the EU steps up, it faces a pivotal moment to not only advance climate action but also to strengthen its strategic position in technological and environmental innovation. Europe’s response in the coming years will be closely watched, as it may become the leading force for climate progress amid shifting U.S. priorities. This situation presents a challenge but also an opportunity for the EU to rise as a global leader in the fight against climate change, setting an example for nations worldwide.
