Donald Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.
Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States of America, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership likely to test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.
The former president’s victory in the swing state of Wisconsin pushed him over the threshold.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre in Florida.
But environmental activists are cautious and seem unimpressed over the outcome of the fresh emergence of Trump, who they see as a climate change denier.
For instance, 350.org says it acknowledges the outcome of the democratic process while also expressing concern that the election result could set back the rights of many communities, colleagues, partners and allies in the U.S., and that Trump’s re-election could mean violations of marginalised people.
In a statement made available to EnviroNews on Wednesday, the environment watchdog submitted: “In the face of this deep disappointment, we draw strength from the collective determination and strength of the climate movement. As the world grapples with runaway climate chaos, widespread cost of living increases, geopolitical instability, and violent conflict, it is time for collective constructive action. The need for strategic interventions and advocacy in the US will be even greater given the Presidency will be handed over to a known climate denier.
“The climate crisis is unravelling with record global temperatures, against a backdrop of deeply ingrained systems of power that influence which politics and policies move forward. The climate movement remains steadfast in its goal of pursuing climate justice and putting the interests of people and planet ahead of profit.
“Next week (Nov 11) the UN climate conference, COP29, starts in Baku, Azerbaijan, and countries from across the world have the opportunity to double down on their climate commitments. This is a time for us to keep faith in multilateralism, for global leaders to step up to the climate challenge, and for the climate movement to hold them accountable. The world needs leadership, accountability, and collaboration from Europe, China, climate-vulnerable nations, and climate allies like Brazil. The good news is that both the money and the blueprints for community-centred, renewable energy solutions exist. It’s time to put them together. The global renewable energy transition is inevitable and doesn’t rely on one country alone.”
Jeff Ordower, 350.org North America Director, said: “Achieving success in global climate politics necessitates having an engaged United States willing to own its share of the responsibility. The next Trump administration will be isolationist and dangerous to climate. But in that darkness, there is some hope that in diminished US power, other nations can step up, and states like California can follow.
“We will be fighting to ensure that Trump’s election creates a more resilient climate justice movement, one that realises we cannot separate decarbonisation, migrant rights, human rights, and demilitarisation. Working together on climate change is in everyone’s best interest. The energy transition in the US will proceed, with or without Trumpʼs support.”
The group emphasised that Trump isn’t in office yet and Joe Biden can increase U.S. climate ambition and finance at COP29.
“These crucial weeks before Trump is inaugurated in January 2025 will determine the Biden legacy he leaves behind and whether he will be remembered as the leader who tried to limit the Trump administration’s damage and keep the world from careening further into climate chaos. Biden must fulfil the US’s commitment to stop financing fossil fuel projects – pause all new Liquified Natural gas (LNG) exports and increase funding and ambition for renewable energy projects both at home and abroad.
“Trump’s re-election cannot be an excuse for other nations to scale back ambition. Those who have the least responsibility and are hit the hardest by the climate crisis are already demonstrating leadership, by offering examples of what a more equitable and healthier world could look like. We must not allow profit-focused nations to replace one broken system with another that suits their own interests. Developing nations can stand together and lead efforts to redirect funds from fossil fuels into renewable projects that benefit their communities and make them more resilient.”
In response to the US elections results, Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network, said: “The climate crisis doesn’t care who is in the White House. If President Trump’s last time in office was anything to go by, there will be chaos and mayhem, but the climate movement will be defiant and continue fighting. The rest of the world will continue working.
“Working together to address the climate crisis is in every nation’s self-interest. The impacts of climate know no boundaries and are felt across the world, including in the US. Nearly 200 countries carried on working on climate during the first Trump Presidency – collaborating with many US states and cities – and we fully expect that to carry on.
“The US is still in the climate battle. The energy transition is inevitable and accelerating in many countries and across the US, regardless of who is in power. If Trump steps out of the global clean energy race, they will be the losers. First mover countries will be the winners. Trump can withdraw from the Paris Agreement, or the UNFCCC as a whole, at his own peril. The US will lose its ability to influence the decisions that will change the trajectory of the world’s economic development.
“While the news that Trump plans to leave the Paris Agreement could cause initial anxiety at COP29, the world’s majority recognises that climate action does not hinge on who is in power in the US, and as we saw before and will see again, other countries will step up if the US reneges on their responsibilities and stands back. But the US will still be held accountable, by their own citizens as well as by governments and people across the world.
“The Trump administration also cannot think that it can leave the Paris Agreement, and still come to climate meetings and obstruct progress. We will not allow this obstruction even if the US stays in the Paris Agreement. Climate Action Network has been fighting for climate action since 1989, long before the first COP. We will not give up no matter how challenging it becomes; we remain defiant in our fight for climate justice.”
Ife Kilimanjaro, USCAN Executive Director, said: “The US Climate Action Network recognises the results of the 2024 election. While the path forward may present challenges, we remain undeterred in our pursuit of a just and liveable future for all. We stand in unwavering solidarity with communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and we are more committed than ever to building, alongside many, a resilient, inclusive movement. The recent election results underscore the urgent need for continued advocacy and action on climate change. We will not be discouraged, but instead will direct our focus and action into a renewed sense of purpose.”
Mohamed Adow, Executive Director, Power Shift Africa, said: “The climate crisis doesn’t stop because of one election result and the rest of the world isn’t going to let one country derail global progress in tackling it. The transition away from climate-wrecking dirty energy to clean renewables is more essential than ever.
“It makes COP29 an even more important summit as it will lay the financial groundwork for climate action in the coming years. Joe Biden remains US President for the next two months and his delegation needs to work with other countries to push for a strong outcome that will ensure the global momentum continues.
“This moment is especially important for Africa, which has vast clean energy resources but needs the finance for renewable energy technology to harness it. It may become more challenging to access that funding if the US reverses its climate finance commitments, so African leaders will need to work harder, and as one, to push for what we in Africa are owed. The facts remain that Africans haven’t caused the climate crisis. The rest of the world needs to deliver the finance that can unlock Africa’s potential.
“The benefits of clean energy and climate action are clear. It is now vital that a progressive coalition of countries, businesses, civil society groups and sub national bodies steps up to show that they will not let this progress be stalled. The first opportunity to show this will be at COP29.”
Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), said: “This is a bad day for the climate movement and the planet. Though the Democrats have remained actively engaged in international dialogue on climate change after President Joe Boden’s reversal of Trumps withdrawal from Paris Agreement, they have played obstructionist role rather than ensuring progress in negotiations.
“In other words, irrespective of whether Trump with withdraw from Paris Agreement or not, we don’t expect to have any difference in the Global solidarity to address one of the existential threats facing humanity. We will do better without Trump and his anti-people and racist government.”
Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), said: “It will be a sad day if Trump again pulls away from climate negotiations as he did during his first coming. His campaign promises to ‘drill baby drill’ will also compound the climate crisis seeing that existing oil reserves are unburnable if the world hopes to avoid catastrophic global burning. His victory will already be a damper on whatever hopes some may have had on COP29 delivering any serious signals that the widening emissions and financial gaps would be narrowed.”
Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate Foundation: “The US election result is a setback for global climate action, but the Paris Agreement has proven resilient and is stronger than any single country’s policies. The context today is very different to 2016. There is powerful economic momentum behind the global transition, which the US has led and gained from, but now risks forfeiting.
“The devastating toll of recent hurricanes was a grim reminder that all Americans are affected by worsening climate change. America is All In accounts for 65 % of the population and 68% of GDP. This coalition – and other subnational actors worldwide – deserve a seat at the global table.”
Jennifer Morgan, Germany State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action: “We will work with the next US administration wherever possible to strengthen the international rules-based order and deal with shared security challenges, including the climate crisis. For Germany and the EU, the transition to climate neutrality is a cornerstone of our future competitiveness. We will work with all partners towards a level playing field in the race for green industries. We will continue to implement our climate laws and work with international partners across all levels of government, civil society and in the private sector on the swift and full implementation of the Paris Agreement.”
Christiana Figueres, former Executive Director, UNFCCC: “The result from this election will be seen as a major blow to global climate action, but it cannot and will not halt the changes underway to decarbonise the economy and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Standing with oil and gas is the same as falling behind in a fast-moving world. Clean energy technologies will continue to outcompete fossil fuels, not just because they are healthier, faster, cleaner and more abundant, but because they undercut fossil fuels where they are at their weakest: their unsolvable volatility and inefficiency.”
Raila Odinga, former PM of Kenya and candidate for Chair of the Africa Union Commission: “Actions of the United States on climate change at home and globally will shape how Africa, a continent that is least responsible for the climate crisis yet suffering most from climate impacts, will navigate its own development path, deliver energy access to over 600 million people who are without electricity access today.
“Climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku, coming on the back of US elections, is a perfect opportunity for the US to step up and be a global steward of the planet. At COP29, the US must lead from the front and support the delivery of ambitious grants-based and highly concessional climate finance to the trillions of dollars required to meet the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries and compensate for losses of damages in a timely and transparent manner.”
Gina McCarthy, former White House National Climate Advisor and 13th U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: “No matter what Trump may say, the shift to clean energy is unstoppable and our country is not turning back. Our coalition is bigger, more bipartisan, better organised, and fully prepared to deliver climate solutions, boost local economies, and drive climate ambition. We cannot and will not let Trump stand in the way of giving our kids and grandkids the freedom to grow up in safer and healthier communities.”
Ambassador Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, chair of Alliance of Small Island States: “The increasingly devastating climate crisis stops for no man, or woman. Our islands are at the frontlines, but we know no country – big or small – is immune from increasingly severe, unprecedented weather impacts. This is evidenced by incidents such as the horrifying loss of life from Hurricane Helene, and the recent shocking flooding in Spain which killed scores of people. Regardless of the outcome of this election, multilateralism is imperative in this process. Small island developing states, along with our partners in the international community, will continue to do the vital work to raise ambition across the board and pull our world back from the brink.”
Izabella Teixeira, former Environment Minister of Brazil: “There is no room for climate denialism in the context of the climate emergency. American society is co-responsible for global warming and, despite Trump’s victory, will undoubtedly be co-responsible for the solutions to the climate crisis.”
Mary Robinson, former Chair, The Elders and former PM of Ireland: “I sincerely hope that the recent hurricanes in the United States have caused President Trump to rethink his belief that climate change will create “more oceanfront properties.” It will only bring more death and devastation. It remains to be seen if he will once again isolate the U.S. by pulling out of the Paris Agreement.
“The outcome of the U.S. elections should not be used as an excuse by world leaders to avoid taking action against climate change. We should redouble our efforts and prove that we can work together for the common good by delivering the necessary climate finance needed at the upcoming COP29 in Baku.”
Bill Hare, CEO Climate Analytics, former IPCC author: “The election of a climate denier to the US Presidency is extremely dangerous for the world. We are already seeing extreme damages, loss of life around the globe due to human induced warming 1.3°C. President Trump will not be above the laws of physics and nor will the country that he leads. If Trump follows through with his threat to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the biggest loser will be the United States. We have been there before – the US withdrawal in the first Trump presidency did not cause the Agreement to collapse, as some pundits predicted.”
Frances Colón, Senior Fellow, International Climate, Centre for American Progress, former deputy science and technology adviser to the Secretary of State: “While Trump ran for office on fossil-fuelled lies that endanger all American communities, the American people are waking up to the ravages of climate change in their lives, and recognising that every country, including the United States, must do our part to protect future generations. Today, clean energy manufacturing is popular with the American public and is bringing jobs to communities across the United States. We will hold this administration accountable for any attempts to dismantle climate investments and ensure that U.S. states, cities, and businesses continue to take climate action in the spirit of global climate cooperation.”
Adair Turner, Chair, Energy Transitions Commission: “There is no point denying that the election of Donald Trump as President is bad news for global efforts to address climate change. But the dramatic advance of key clean technologies such as solar, batteries and EVs, plus the commitment of other countries across the world, and of companies and individual states in the US, means that progress towards a global net zero carbon economy will still be maintained.”
Sébastien Treyer, Executive Director of Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), a major French think tank: “The Paris Agreement is holding in particular because the European Union and China are committed to it, and many American economic players, even among Trump’s supporters, are already developing technologies for a decarbonised world. However, commercial competition could further harden in the trade conflict between China and the United States, and the poorest countries will be victims even more than Europe. It will therefore be all the more important to close ranks, between countries for which cooperation is vital.”
Yao Zhe, Global Policy Advisor, Greenpeace East Asia: “Once again, China finds itself at a pivotal moment. Expectations are high that China will join key nations in reassuring the world that climate action will continue. In practical terms, a new NDC that outlines clear actions to transition away from fossil fuels will provide the world with the reassurance it needs. Climate played a crucial role in stabilising US-China relations during the Biden time. The Trump administration may undo some of the climate diplomacy gains of recent years, but US-China climate cooperation will continue at the subnational level and among non-state actors.”
Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW): “The proposed trade barriers will need careful navigation so that Indian industries, especially for clean technologies, do not suffer. Currently, India exports 90 per cent of its solar modules to the US. Over the next four years, India will need to be prepared and strategically nimble to deepen green trade, co-develop clean tech supply chains, and accelerate its energy transition.
“The US election results do not change the fact that India and the US will continue to be key strategic partners. With Donald Trump in power, India can count on continued oil and gas supply to ensure its developmental needs since the US is a net exporter of fuels now. Between 2017 and 2024, the US became the fifth largest liquified natural gas (LNG) and crude oil supplier to India.”
Rachel Cleetus, policy director with the Climate and Energy programme, Union of Concerned Scientists: “President-elect Trump ran a brutish campaign that disregarded or misrepresented scientific facts, while promising to boost fossil fuel companies’ fortunes. The nation and world can expect an incoming Trump administration to take a wrecking ball to global climate diplomacy. That will likely include the shameful act of taking the United States out of the Paris Agreement again. Many domestic climate policies aren’t safe either, though the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy provisions could prove durable as they’re delivering significant economic benefits to all states and have the support of workers, businesses and policymakers across the political spectrum.”
Adam Bandt, leader of the Australian Greens: “A second-term Trump presidency is going to be bad for the world and for the climate. But we can’t give up. Keeping global heating below 1.5 degrees is vital, as beyond this threshold, we risk causing chain reactions that humans will no longer be able to control. Hundreds of millions of people will experience extreme heat waves, drought will become significantly more likely, agriculture globally will become more challenging, and coral reefs will entirely collapse. It’s important that countries across the world continue to work together to take strong climate action, even if the new US president won’t.”
Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi: “The outcome of the US election is consequential for the climate. Efforts to fight against and mitigate climate change effects on the world and developing countries in particular hang in the balance. As a global superpower, we expect the US to do the right thing for the sake of the world and generations to come.”
Kostantsa Rangelova, an analyst at global energy think-tank Ember: “Solar and wind continue their unstoppable rise in the US. Technological advancement cannot be held back. The world is upgrading to a cleaner, more efficient and cheaper energy system, boosting energy security in many countries. The transition is inevitable, but putting up barriers to artificially slow it down would risk losing out on the many benefits of going faster.”
Gavan McFadzean, Manager, Climate Change and Clean Energy Programme, Australian Conservation Foundation: “With the election of President Trump the world will lose America’s leadership in lifting global ambition on climate action, while blocking efforts at home to reduce their domestic emissions as the world’s second largest climate polluter. We will also likely see an alarming escalation in US fossil fuel exports which will undermine the essential task to transition global energy systems to renewables. It is now more critical than ever that Australia, as one of world’s top three exporters of coal and gas, to show leadership at home and abroad to rapidly phaseout its fossil fuel exports and announce a strong science aligned 2035 emissions reduction target.”
Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Climate Justice Activist, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines: “Countries like mine are already enduring life-shattering climate impacts. Hope alone will not save us. Now more than ever, we need bold and decisive action rooted in climate justice. While the fossil fuel industry and leaders like Trump cling to a collapsing system, we cannot give in. We must not allow global climate cooperation to be undermined by any single leader or country. We must continue to organise and campaign to bring the end of the fossil fuel era. COP29 will be the first of many international gatherings where the world must come together and show what real leadership in this crisis looks like.”
Yael Stone, Hi Neighbour Founding Director, actor and climate communicator: “Irrespective of election results the train to energy transformation has left the station and it will not be called back. The rollout of renewables goes beyond government handover and has powerful economic imperatives with scope beyond election cycles.”
Charles Wanguhu, founding director of the Enzi Ijayo- Africa Initiative: “As the biggest oil producer in the world, the United States bears a special obligation to support ambitious international climate targets. Collective global actions underscore its importance. The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is the most important component, which merits greater focus. It is imperative that the US election result does not have a detrimental effect on the future of climate concerns and the discussions in Baku.”
Julius Mbatia, Climate Finance Expert at ACT Alliance: “Climate change knows no national or geopolitical boundaries. We are all in boats being buffeted by the same challenge, but different circumstances of countries mean some of us are barely afloat with limited or no hope to survive while others remain afloat as they have mega, technologically modified vessels. COP 29 in Baku must address fundamental barriers to enhancing ambition and break through serious financial challenges of developing countries to tackle the climate crisis. Ambition in finance would mean higher financial provision and overall lower cost of finance to achieve climate and development objectives for regions such as Africa.”
Faten Aggad, Executive Director, African Future Policies Hub: “One of the key questions for Africa relates to the trade agenda of the Trump administration. Specifically, how his administration will handle the negotiations around AGOA and what impact would a likely acceleration of the trade war with China have on supply chains and therefore the affordability and access to key green technologies. A successful green transition hinges on trade cooperation and the likely increased protectionism in the US, which is likely to be mimicked in the EU, is a concern.”
Dr. Oulie Keita, Executive Director, Greenpeace Africa: “The African continent has consistently found itself at the forefront of various extreme weather events in recent years, resulting in severe consequences. It is important to recognise that Africa is the lowest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, yet it endures the most significant repercussions of the climate crisis. The results of the U.S. election should serve as a poignant reminder to the incoming Trump administration that the world is facing a climate emergency that necessitates immediate action from all nations. The scientific consensus is unequivocal regarding the need for countries to significantly reduce their emissions to achieve the 1.5-degree target. African communities expect the Trump Administration to uphold the global climate finance commitments as outlined in the Paris Agreement.”
Sophia Kianni, UN Youth Advisor & Founder of Climate Cardinals: “Our planet’s future hinges on the action we take now. This election outcome underscores the urgency for climate leaders and advocates worldwide to step up, collaborate, and hold leaders accountable. Even as the United States faces potential setbacks, we must keep the momentum going, reaffirming our commitment to the Paris Agreement and setting the stage for even bolder climate action at COP29. The science is clear: the cost of inaction is far too high. Now, more than ever, we must rise to the challenge and protect our planet for generations to come.”
Luisa Neubauer, Fridays For Future Germany: “This is a black day for the climate. It’s a shade of black we haven’t invented yet. And I fear there are many more black days to come. Hope is work, now more than ever. Hell is a spectrum and how we as civil society organise and mobilise will be decisive on where on that spectrum we land. People in the climate community will need to step up, and internationally we will have a huge gap to fill.”
Meghan Fandrich – a trauma-informed editor, parent, and climate disaster survivor, and the author of Burning Sage: Poems from the Lytton fire: “The 2021 wildfire in Lytton, British Columbia destroyed my small business, along with 90% of my hometown, the town I grew up in, the town I was raising my daughter in. So many years of my life, so much energy and dedication and love, were reduced to ashes and rusted metal. Climate change won’t stop just because there is a climate denier in the White House.
“All countries need to work together to address the climate crisis; there is no more time to waste. Millions of people around the world, like me and my young daughter, are experiencing devastating climate impacts, from wildfires to floods, heatwaves to hurricanes. When future generations look back at this moment, they will surely condemn any government who did not meet the moment with the urgency and compassion required.”
Carlos Minc, former Environment Minister of Brazil: “Trump’s victory is the planet’s biggest civilisational and climatic step backwards. A man who symbolises the most truculent and backward right-wing, who wants to promote the most authoritarian positions worldwide against the rights of women, environmentalists, LGBTQIA+ people and immigrants. It’s toxic. The first step he will likely take is to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, which is the country that has the most significant historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions. So, let’s mobilise all other countries and do what we can to stop this victory from becoming a civilisational and climate disaster.”
Gerry Arances, Executive Director, Centre for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) – Philippines: “A Trump re-election is alarming, given his past actions of supporting fossil fuels, rejection of climate science, and even withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. His victory only highlights the US’ historical responsibility as a major polluter, and movements in climate-vulnerable regions like ours are all the more encouraged to hold the US accountable. With Trump’s re-election, we intensify the call for global alignment to the 1.5°C pathway, including through an urgent fossil fuel phaseout, a just renewable energy transition, and delivery of climate finance and resources owed by developed nations to the world’s most vulnerable.”
Linda Kalcher, Executive Director of Strategic Perspectives: “Trump’s obsession with fossil fuels is short-sighted and ignores global market trends. The demand for oil and gas is falling across the world as we transition to cleaner sources of energy. This risks costing the jobs of the very people that voted for him and creating stranded assets that will not yield profit despite huge investments. The International Energy Agency estimates the global market for clean technologies to be worth over $2 trillion by 2035 according to the IEA.
“Major economies like China and the European Union are unlikely to follow the United States in giving up this opportunity, and the socio-economic benefits, of the new industrial era. They will turbocharge their investments in manufacturing electric vehicles, renewable energy and batteries.”
Alexandre Gubert Lette, Executive Director of Teranga Lab, Senegal: “Disappointment and concern: At a time when the climate crisis leaves no room for setbacks, Trump’s election feels like a blow on the eve of COP29’s opening. This return risks reigniting a climate of scepticism and slowing the efforts needed to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. With a climate-sceptical outlook and likely disengagement from the United States, emissions reduction promises could be hindered, potentially triggering a domino effect on other countries tempted to ease their commitments.”
Friederike Otto, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London: “The world is in a very different place to what it was when Trump was last in power. The global move to renewable energy is now happening at an unprecedented pace. Nothing the US government can do will change the simple fact that renewable energy is cheaper and more reliable than oil, gas and coal. Fossil fuels are a thing of the past. The world is moving on. The US has never been a great team player at COPs, regardless of which party is in government. People don’t go to COPs expecting the US to push for more ambition. When Trump quit the Paris Agreement in 2016, many governments still stuck to their plans.
“As always, other countries need to step up at COP29. Trump can deny climate change all he wants, but the laws of physics don’t care about politics. As we speak, nearly every US state is experiencing drought and last month, back-to-back hurricanes wreaked havoc in the southeast. Extreme weather will keep getting worse in the US as long as the world burns fossil fuels.”
Malango Mughogho, Managing Director, ZeniZeni Sustainable Finance: “As with all election results, people’s responses are different. What is not different is that the realities of climate change are still with us. We are still on course for more global warming that affects every single country in the world, including the US. Which means that individuals, communities and businesses will continue to expect their governments to respond to climate change because it affects their ability to thrive and earn money, including in the US. So, while the face of the US president will change next year, it’s important to remember what must not change, which is multilateral solidarity to address climate change.”
Connie Hedegaard, former EU Climate Commissioner and former lead negotiator of COP15 in Copenhagen: “Trump is bad news for climate. Full stop. However, the green energy transition is happening and will continue not only because it makes climate sense but also because it makes economic sense and has proven that it can contribute to job creation. Just ask Texas!
“It is now more important than ever that the US business community does what it does best: Deliver and scale solutions, innovate and invest for the future not for the past.”
Prof Mark Maslin, Professor of Climatology at UCL: “Domestically Trump is a vocal supporter of coal, but coal use declined during his first Presidency due to the switch to gas and renewable energy. This has continued under President Biden and will continue into the future due to simple economics. This reflects global trends moving away from coal to natural gas and renewable energy. But the transition from fossil fuels is too slow and the UN have suggested that with current trends we are looking at 3.1˚C warming by the end of the century. The other major trend that Trump has little influence on is the growth in the global green economy which is worth over $10 trillion annually which is 10% of the world’s GDP.
“In the US there are at least 10 million jobs in the green economy compared with 300,000 in the fossil fuel industry. Hence, if you want to grow your economy and make jobs, then investment in the green economy will be essential. In summary Trump may slow down the transition away from fossil fuels and allow other countries to delay action – but the writing is on the wall both politically and economically for fossil fuels. It is when – not if – fossil fuels cease to be used as an energy source.”
David Michael Terungwa, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP): “To me, It is a dangerous mistake to elect a climate denier into the white house again. Although, the world passed through this route when President Trump won in 2016, I remember vividly at COP22 in Marrakech Morocco after Trump’s victory, the whole COP arena became very quiet but that was not the end of climate action in the world. Europe provided leadership and filled the vacuum.
“Agreed the United States is an important in this context but we have many people in the United States including republicans who agree with scientists that human induced climate change is impacting the world including the United States, according to Bloomberg, the total short- and long-term economic impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton its wake is estimated to cost taxpayers in the USA roughly $400 billion.
“Trump denied COVID19, and it cost him his re-election and hundreds of American lives. Therefore, it is a call for all citizens, scientists and businesses in the United States and around the world not to despair but to rise to the challenge and fight for the future of the planet. COP29 in Baku starting in a few days provides a unique opportunity for the world to rise in unison and demonstrates genuine climate action with or without the United States.”
Lena Moffitt, Executive Director, Evergreen Action: “Let us be clear: Climate progress didn’t stop under the first Trump administration, and it won’t stop now. Alongside our allies in the climate movement, we will fight tooth and nail against every attempt to dismantle the strides we’ve made in securing a safer, more just climate future. Trump has vowed to gut popular investments that are powering our clean energy economy and block lifesaving pollution standards that our communities need.
“Already, Republicans and Democrats in Congress have stood up in opposition to slashing the Inflation Reduction Act, and we expect a growing national outcry against Trump’s agenda. We’re ready to defend the hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in investments already transforming our economy and to stand united with the broader progressive movement to protect our communities and democracy against Trump’s attacks. States made historic progress on climate during his first term despite a hostile White House, and we’ll be ready to support robust state-led climate action in the coming years.”
Betty Wang, Senior Programme Officer of Climate at the Asia Society Policy Institute: “A second Trump administration will likely see the U.S. exit the Paris Agreement and cut back on climate funding abroad – a shift that will ripple across Asia, where countries depend heavily on climate finance and technology partnerships. Without U.S. leadership, other nations need to strengthen their own commitments and look increasingly to other regions, such as the EU, for cooperative frameworks, risking a slowdown in the crucial global collaboration needed to meet climate targets.
“Under Trump, formal U.S.-China climate cooperation would likely stall, halting coordination on key areas like energy transition and methane reduction. Losing these channels risks delaying essential emissions cuts, weakening global climate goals. With the U.S. stepping back, the world may increasingly turn to China to step up as a leading force in climate action.”
Professor Chris Hilson, Director of the Reading Centre for Climate and Justice, University of Reading: “Trump’s re-election may surprise on climate. Internationally, Trump may withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement for a second time, but that’s not likely to have the sort of impact it did before in terms of international diplomacy. It’s already more or less priced in. Other countries will carry on without the US.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and C40 Cities Co-Chair: “The lesson of today is that progress is not inevitable. But asserting our progressive values is more important than ever – re-committing to building a world where racism and hatred is rejected, the fundamental rights of women and girls are upheld, and where we continue to tackle the crisis of climate change head-on.”
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown and C40 Cities Co-Chair: “The climate crisis is a lived reality threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people across the Global South through fires, floods, food shortages and mass migration. Cities are vital to tackling this crisis and C40 mayors will continue to do so.
“Mayors and local leaders across the United States and the world remain committed to creating green jobs and economic growth in sustainable industries, protecting our communities from extreme weather, and addressing environmental justice and equity.”
Mark Watts, C40 Cities Executive Director: “It’s deeply disappointing to see a climate crisis denier back in the White House. But mayors have always led on climate, and Donald Trump’s election doesn’t change that.
“Mayors will keep pushing for faster, fairer, and bolder climate action that delivers cleaner air, better jobs and more safe and resilient cities.”
Ana Toni, Secretary for Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil: “The fight against climate change is a long-term commitment of all governments and a necessity for humanity. National elections or geopolitical tensions can obviously affect global climate governance, but we have a collective responsibility to maintain and strengthen the international multilateral climate framework. Brazil will do its part and will continue to work with all governments, as well as all other relevant players from the private sector, subnational governments and civil society to pursue this goal.
Abigail Dillen, Earthjustice: “We have seen this playbook before. The previous administration denied people’s basic rights, freedoms, and refused to uphold the rule of law. When they denied the climate crisis, denied justice to communities long overburdened by pollution, and gave industry open season to pollute our land and waters, we fought back. And we won. We are even stronger now, and we’re ready. We will see Donald Trump in court.”
The Sierra Club: “This is a dark day, but despite this election result, momentum is on our side. The transition away from dirty fossil fuels to affordable clean energy is already underway. Trump can’t change the reality that an overwhelming majority of Americans want more clean energy, not more fossil fuels. Through investments in the Inflation Reduction Act we are creating millions of new clean energy jobs. Clean energy is already cheaper in most cases than dirty fossil fuels, and wind and solar now generate more power in the US than coal.”
Dan Lashof, WRI: “There is no denying that another Trump presidency will stall national efforts to tackle the climate crisis and protect the environment, but most U.S. state, local, and private sector leaders are committed to charging ahead. And you can count on a chorus of world leaders confirming that they won’t turn their back on climate and nature goals.”
Andrew Reagan, Clean Energy for America: “America’s clean energy boom is improving people’s lives, making energy more affordable, and American clean energy factories are appearing across the country, driving a manufacturing renaissance. Over 3.5 million Americans work in clean energy and the workforce is rapidly expanding. This momentum is not guaranteed. We must continue the fight for clean energy, and winning support from policymakers is essential to maintaining this momentum. We will continue pushing for policies and supporting leaders that build America’s lead in clean energy innovation, jobs, manufacturing, and economic growth.”
