Trump As US President Will Deepen Climate Crisis: Policy Experts

New Delhi: Donald Trump 's election as president of United States is a profound blow to global climate justice and his disregard for international agreements and refusal to provide climate finance will deepen crisis, international policy experts said on Wednesday.

Trump As President Will Deepen Climate Crisis

Sunita Narain, director general of Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment, said Trump winning White House race is a "big setback" for global climate efforts, especially if he rolls back critical domestic policies like Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

She said US has historically fallen short in global climate efforts, particularly on financing support for vulnerable countries, decarbonisation and financial commitments to developing world, and Trump's presidency will make matters even worse.

"While President Joe Biden 's administration showed stronger climate action domestically than internationally, our primary concern w is that Trump may roll back se critical domestic efforts, including Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)," she said.

" IRA is crucial because United States remains single-largest historical emitter of greenhouse gases and second-largest emitter annually. It is also world's top producer and exporter of oil and gas, generating around 13 million barrels daily. IRA (and its role in achieving 50-per cent emissions reduction by 2030, below 2005 levels) served as a significant signal to world that US could lead on climate action," Narain said.

In his campaign, Trump emphasised his support for increasing oil and gas production, with "Drill, baby, drill" as a key slogan. He dismissed climate change concerns entirely. Rolling back IRA and expanding oil production would be extremely harmful for international climate efforts, climate policy expert said.

Former US president Trump is cruising towards winning White House race in one of greatest political comebacks in American history. According to projections, Trump is all set to receive 270 electoral college votes, blocking chance of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to win polls.

Trump, who has publicly called climate change a "hoax", withdrew US from Paris Agreement when he was president.

He has said he would pull out of Paris Agreement again. re are concerns that Trump would also consider withdrawing US from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Harjeet Singh, climate activist and Global Engment Director for Fossil Fuel n-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said Trump's victory is a profound blow to global climate justice and an alarming escalation of climate risk for world's most vulnerable communities.

Trump's push to ramp up fossil-fuel production, disregard for international agreements and refusal to provide climate finance will deepen crisis, endangering lives and livelihoods -- especially in regions least responsible for, yet most impacted by, climate change, he said.

"With COP29 talks starting in Baku next week and aiming to secure an ambitious new climate finance goal, this news makes already challenging path to consensus even steeper and more uncertain. As narrow window to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown closes, world cant afford for its largest historical carbon emitter and top fossil-fuel producer to shirk its responsibility. By stepping back from climate commitments, Trump's actions threaten to erode trust in a global system already strained by indifference and inaction of wealthy nations.

" US, as a nation, has an urgent duty to lead -- t undermine -- global efforts. It is time for states, public and companies committed to protecting planet to intensify ir domestic actions and show true solidarity with developing world, which is confronting climate crisis," Singh said.

Helen Clarkson, CEO of international n-profit Climate Group, said fighting climate change, financing transition and taking action to reduce emissions have just become a "vastly bigger challenge, which will be felt at COP29 and in years to come".

This outcome in US, just after two devastating hurricanes impacted sourn parts of country, is in line with a trend of climate scepticism throughout past election year, she said.

"We cant let that deter us. It means we have to look for leadership elsewhere. Corporates and states and regions, including in US, are already leading way on climate action," Clarkson said.