What's happened
At the COP29 climate talks in Baku, US climate envoy John Podesta emphasized that the fight against climate change will persist despite Donald Trump's re-election. Trump aims to reverse Biden's climate policies, raising concerns about future emissions and international cooperation on climate action.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, John Podesta stated, "this is not the end of our fight for a cleaner, safer planet," emphasizing the resilience of climate efforts despite Trump's policies. The New York Times highlighted that Podesta aims to reassure allies that U.S. emissions will continue to decline, even with a president who denies climate science. However, experts warn that Trump's administration could lead to significant increases in carbon emissions, with a June analysis predicting an additional 4 billion metric tons by 2030 if Biden's policies are reversed. Environmental groups are preparing to mount legal challenges against potential rollbacks, as noted by the Natural Resources Defense Council's president, who expressed confidence in their ability to protect environmental regulations.
How we got here
The recent re-election of Donald Trump has raised alarms regarding the future of US climate policy. Under Biden, significant investments were made in clean energy, but Trump has pledged to dismantle these efforts, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated substantial funding for climate initiatives.
More on these topics
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The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is a bill passed by the 117th United States Congress in August 2022 that aims to curb inflation by reducing the deficit, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing into domestic energy production while promoting c
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Kamala Devi Harris is an American attorney and politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from California since 2017.
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John David Podesta Jr. is an American political consultant who served as White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2001 and Counselor to President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2015.