The United States of America’s elections have stirred great controversy regarding climate change and environmental conservation agendas. Following the victory of former U.S. President Donald Trump, lobbying organizations and climate activists have raised concerns about the future of climate action globally.
The US has a history of unpredictable shifts in climate policy, and it is evident that the world has had to adapt to America’s back-and-forth on climate issues before and must prepare to do so again.
This unpredictability was highlighted by the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017, which placed other nations in an unprecedented position in the climate discourse.
Arguably, Europe has outpaced the U.S. in matters of climate finance, as lobbyists argue that the anticipated negotiations on climate finance under the current administration are unlikely to shift dramatically, even though the world’s perception of the US might.
The world needs to pause during the continued multilateral conversations that present significant opportunities for collaboration in advancing climate action. This is especially true for this year’s COP29, which has been greatly referred to as a ‘finance COP’ and remains a pivotal moment on the horizon as leaders push for meaningful climate action and, most importantly, climate financing.
Alex Scott, Senior Advisor for Climate Diplomacy at the ECCO think tank, said that we’ve been here before, but the stakes—and the players—have shifted. She highlighted that climate is now a top priority at the G7 and G20, and countries like Brazil are pioneering ways to unite finance and climate agendas.
“In this scenario, the EU has a crucial role to play, as do new champions like Brazil, Colombia, and Kenya, who are driving the global climate conversation forward,” said Alex.
In a similar vein, Fred Njehu, Greenpeace’s Pan-African Political Strategist, emphasized that the global trade relationship between Africa and the US could shift significantly, with past bilateral agreements at risk of not being renewed.
This is impactful since Africa relies on multilateral processes to secure the resources needed for a sustainable future, highlighting the push for a stronger and faster commitment from the US at Baku.
“We’re hopeful that the ambitions raised by Africa will lead to real change, but we need the pace to pick up. The US has long been a major investor in Africa, but we need to move away from fossil fuel investments and focus on a green transition for Africa’s future. We are standing firm against investments that undermine progress, particularly in technology transfer and the plastics treaty, where US pressure has been a hurdle,” added Fred.
According to a joint statement from the U.S.; America Is All In, the U.S. Climate Alliance, and Climate Mayors—representing nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population and three-quarters of U.S.
GDP through 24 governors, nearly 350 mayors, and thousands of public and private institutions—the climate crisis is a priority that requires serious attention.
“America’s climate-leading states, cities, Tribal nations, businesses, and institutions will not waver in our commitment to confronting the climate crisis, protecting our progress, and relentlessly pushing forward. No matter what, we’ll fight for the future Americans demand and deserve, where our communities, our health, our environment, and our economy all thrive. We will not turn back,” stated the joint message.
Based on the realities of the climate crisis, such as the floods that have affected North Carolina and Kentucky, the American people are waking up to the ravages of climate change in their lives and recognizing that every country, including the United States, must do its part to protect future generations.
As Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown and C40 Cities Co-Chair, points out, 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.
She emphasized that cities are vital for tackling this crisis, and C40 mayors will continue contributing.
“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,” said Yvonne.
Regarding the position of the US in climate action, Li Shuo, Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, stated that COP holds promise, but what truly matters is what happens afterward, as nations must be better prepared, and a unified, strong response is vital for reinforcing climate commitments and multilateralism.
“China is leading the green energy race, but the US-China dynamic reveals the need for reflection on future relations—especially with Baku on the horizon. It is essential that today’s green economic transformation—not US politics or North-South divides—is driving global action. Key partnerships with the EU and China are crucial as we look beyond 2025 and test the strength of new diplomatic platforms and climate targets,” added Li Shuo.
Geopolitical tensions have been a hurdle in achieving many climate action goals. However, despite this, multilateralism has facilitated crucial conversations toward a collective approach to addressing the climate crisis.
Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi, stresses that as a global superpower, it’s expected of the US to do the right thing for the sake of the world and future generations, as efforts to combat and mitigate the effects of climate change hang in the balance, particularly for developing countries.
