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Former UN climate chief warns of global impact of a possible regression in US green policies
Victory for Donald Trump in the US presidential election this year could put the world’s climate goals at risk, a former UN climate chief has said.
The chances of limiting global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels are already slim, and Trump’s antipathy to climate action would have a major impact on the US, which is the world’s second biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and biggest oil and gas exporter, said Patricia Espinosa, who served as the UN’s top official on the climate from 2016 to 2022.
“I worry [about the potential election of Trump] because it would have very strong consequences, if we see a regression regarding climate policies in the US,” Espinosa said.
Although Trump’s policy plans are not lear, conversations with his circle have created a worrying picture that could include the cancellation of Joe Biden’s groundbreaking climate legislation, withdrawal from the Paris agreement and a push for more drilling for oil and gas.
It doesn’t matter if Trump wins or Biden wins or heck if even Kennedy wins. The climate change has already reached the no turning back point. We are no longer dealing with scenarios trying to get things back to a natural curve. We’re now trying to figure out how to deal with some vs lots of consequences.
The time to care was a long time ago. Now is the time to figure out how to live with the consequences of others inaction.
As usual XKCD has one of the better infographics on the subject.