The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) opened on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan. The election of Trump has stirred controversy in global climate negotiations. Many countries predict that the United States will withdraw from global climate cooperation once Trump assumes office.
John Podesta, the top U.S. climate diplomat, reassured foreign officials at the opening ceremony on Monday that the U.S. remains committed to addressing climate change, even if President Trump does not intend to do so. He stated, “This is not the end of our fight for a cleaner, safer planet. Facts are facts. Science is science. This struggle transcends a single election or a single political cycle in one country.”
Podesta added, “While the federal government under Donald Trump may place climate change action as a lower priority, efforts to combat climate change will continue unwaveringly, passionately, and confidently in the United States.”
During his election campaign, Trump promised to roll back federal regulations on U.S. emission reduction targets, once again leading the country to exit the Paris Climate Agreement.
Podesta remarked, “That’s what he (Trump) said, and we should believe him.”
However, the U.S. has passed legislation aimed at establishing clean energy production facilities, creating job opportunities, and fulfilling commitments to reduce climate pollution.
Podesta outlined the progress made by the Biden administration in transitioning the U.S. energy system from fossil fuels to reducing climate pollution and injecting billions of dollars into the fight against climate pollution.
He mentioned, “Because the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has endurance, I believe the U.S. will continue to reduce emissions, benefiting not only our own country but the world.”
The U.S.’s influence in this year’s climate negotiations is expected to weaken as its negotiation representatives are officials of an outgoing government. Many countries foresee the U.S. withdrawing from global climate cooperation once Trump takes office.
Podesta announced that on Tuesday, he will co-host a summit with China to address methane and other climate pollutants. The focus of this year’s summit is to set new climate aid targets to assist developing countries in addressing rising temperatures.
Participants in the summit include heads of state, government leaders, scientists, environmentalists, indigenous representatives, activists, and other stakeholders. They will discuss and negotiate the implementation of global measures to mitigate the impact of climate change. According to UN data, countries made no progress last year in reducing global emissions generated by burning fossil fuels.