Will Trump’s re-election derail global climate efforts again? COP29 raises the alarm

Extensive coverage from Turkish broadcaster Haber Global has highlighted mounting concerns that the potential re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States could lead to significant shifts in global climate policies.

This topic has sparked significant discussion at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), currently being held in Baku, Caliber.Az reports.

The event, which has largely focused on climate financing, has seen heightened attention directed at the stance of the United States, which has notably lacked high-level representation at the conference.

His first presidential term was marked by the controversial decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international accord aimed at mitigating climate change. This withdrawal significantly disrupted collaborative global efforts to combat the escalating climate crisis.

President Joe Biden, Trump’s successor, made rejoining the Paris Agreement one of his early priorities, signalling a renewed US commitment to international climate action. However, Trump’s current campaign has reignited apprehension, as he has indicated his intent to once again pull the US out of the agreement if elected.

This possible shift in US policy has raised alarms among countries deeply invested in environmental initiatives. “The country that should contribute more than any other has stated that it will not do so,” remarked Professor Esra Hatipoglu, Rector of Bahçeşehir University.

She added, “Trump expresses scepticism about multilateral agreements and is doubtful about the seriousness of climate issues.”

Notably, the US presidential election, held on November 5, saw Trump defeat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris by securing 295 electoral votes, surpassing the required 270 to claim victory. The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States is set for January 20, 2025.

By Aghakazim Guliyev