Donald Trump, 78, reclaimed the White House on Wednesday, 6 November 2024, by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes required to win the presidency. His victory has raised concern among environmental activists and policymakers globally.
Trump’s win, particularly given his previous scepticism towards climate change, has reignited fears about America’s commitment to climate action and its leadership role at a critical juncture in global efforts to tackle climate change.
Elected as the 47th President of the United States, Trump’s remarkable return to power comes four years after being voted out of office, ushering in a new era of American leadership that is expected to challenge democratic institutions domestically and diplomatic relations internationally.
Despite the democratic process being respected, environmental activists remain cautious and largely unimpressed by Trump’s re-election, viewing him as a climate change denier. For example, the climate organisation 350.org has acknowledged the election outcome but expressed concern that Trump’s return could harm the rights of vulnerable communities and undermine efforts to address climate change.
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 more significant given that 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 pursuing climate justice and putting the interests of people and the planet ahead of profit.
“Next week (Nov 11), the UN climate conference, COP29, starts in Baku, Azerbaijan, and countries worldwide can 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 the money and blueprints exist for community-centred, renewable energy solutions. It’s time to put them together. The global renewable energy transition is inevitable and doesn’t rely on one country alone.”
David Micheal Terungwa – Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation:
“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 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 COVID-19, 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 worldwide not to despair but to rise to the challenge and fight for the planet’s future. 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.”
Prof. Daniel Gwary – Director of Arid Zone Studies, University of Maiduguri, said:
“Mr Donald Trump’s victory at the November 2024 US polls to return to the White House and to replace the Democrat Biden as the US president is being received with mixed fillings at the UNFCCC headquarters and among climate change activists. This is because of his established position on climate change and the Paris Agreement.
“Mr Trump is still coming back with his strong position of America first, even when other nations are hurt and crying for climate justice. His victory may likely affect the enthusiasm of nations going to COP 29 to increase their commitment to cut their emission levels so that the world stays below the 1.5oC temperature. In addition, it may affect the developed nations’ readiness to increase funding for adaptation and Loss and Damage, which is the strong demand for African countries and Small Island States most affected by climate change.
“However, all hope is not lost, as Donald Trump will not forget the flood and hurricane devastations that affected parts of the US due to climate change. He cannot continue to be in self-denial that we now have a climate emergency that requires united global action under the Paris Agreement to protect our planet. “Analysts believe that Mr Trump is likely to revise the US climate law and strike a cautious balance of staying with some commitment to reduce carbon emissions but not accepting his country to take the expected leadership of driving climate action. The European Union and China will have to drive the tricycle without the US under the Trump administration.”
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 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.”
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 reduce their emissions to achieve the 1.5-degree target significantly. African communities expect the Trump Administration to uphold the global climate finance commitments as outlined in the Paris Agreement.”
Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of 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 damper whatever hopes some may have had on COP29, delivering any serious signals that the widening emissions and financial gaps would be narrowed.”
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 highlighted 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 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 a more equitable and healthier world. We must not allow profit-focused nations to replace one broken system with another that suits their interests. Developing nations can unite and lead efforts to redirect fossil fuel funds into renewable projects that benefit their communities and make them more resilient.”
Adam Bandt, leader of the Australian Greens: “A second-term Trump presidency is going to be bad for the world and 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 can no longer control. Hundreds of millions will experience extreme heat waves, drought will become significantly more likely, agriculture globally will become more challenging, and coral reefs will entirely collapse. Countries worldwide must 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 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, undermining the essential task of transitioning global energy systems to renewables. It is now more critical than ever that Australia, as one of the world’s top three exporters of coal and gas, show leadership at home and abroad to rapidly phase out 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 end 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 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 and merits greater focus. The US election result mustn’t 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 in different countries mean some of us are barely afloat with limited or no hope of survival. In contrast, others remain afloat as they have mega, technologically modified vessels. COP 29 in Baku must address fundamental barriers to enhancing ambition and through serious financial challenges of developing countries to tackle the climate crisis. Ambition in finance would mean higher financial provision and lower cost 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.”