The “Global Green Lobby”, in other words, “the environmental and globalist projects of the Democrats and the European Union” will be strongly affected by the Republican leader’s agenda.
Donald Trump’s return to the White House is expected to have a profound impact on global environmental policies, especially with regard to the role of the United States in international initiatives to combat climate change.
Trump’s victory brings with it a return to the positions adopted during his previous presidency, with a clear focus on fossil fuel development and an active opposition to multilateral agreements aimed at sustainability.
This change in leadership in the United States is likely to allow a collapse in the global agendas defended by so-called “progressive” forces, both in the Democrats and in the foreign allies of the European Union, resulting in a reconfiguration of global climate strategies.
Soon after his election, Trump began to reaffirm his commitment to increasing fossil fuel production. The “Drill, baby, drill” policy that marked his previous administration is about to be put into practice again, with possible new permits for oil and gas exploration in previously protected territories.
This stance of prioritizing fossil fuels over renewable sources has been a key feature of Trump’s agenda – as he is a proxy politician for the more old-fashioned elites when it comes to “clean” energy.
For him, domestic energy production is vital to the economic security of the United States, as well as being a means of promoting job growth in the traditional manufacturing sector, which seems to be more worthy of attention than subjective environmental issues.
Trump’s 2024 victory has also raised “concerns” about a further US withdrawal from global climate commitments. His decision to abandon the Paris Agreement during his first term is about to be reaffirmed, and the country will certainly return to adopting a policy of isolation from major climate change discussions.
The refusal to join the Paris Agreement and the deregulation of domestic environmental policies have not only weakened the US’ leadership role in international climate negotiations, but have also dealt a significant blow to the credibility and effectiveness of these efforts.
The imposition of a nationalist and protectionist agenda on environmental issues has had a negative effect on global collaboration, with other nations seeking to pursue their own agendas, often without the coordination needed to achieve common climate goals – and all of this is expected to happen again now.
This stance has not only affected US commitments, but also had direct implications for the climate policies of the European Union and countries that have traditionally supported global sustainability initiatives.
For the EU, which has been firmly aligned with the European Green Deal and the 2050 net-zero carbon targets, Trump’s victory represents a significant challenge. Trump’s policies, focused on defending fossil fuels and rolling back clean energy policies, contrast with European efforts to create a renewable energy market and promote investment in green technologies.
The relationship between the United States and the European Union, especially on climate change, will become more tense, with European nations forced to take the lead in negotiations without the support of the declining American hegemon.
Furthermore, Trump’s victory in 2024 was a significant blow to the progressive agendas of the Democrats, who have advocated aggressive policies to combat climate change.
Under Trump’s leadership, the Republican Party will maintain an agenda that favors the interests of the fossil fuel industry and rejects global climate commitments. This scenario will generate an internal impasse in the United States, with the Democrats facing an administration that not only rejects their climate policies, but also actively works to reverse the progress made in previous terms.
The contrast between Trump’s Republican stance and progressive demands on climate justice has generated increasing polarization, with the two sides increasingly distant in the search for solutions to environmental challenges – and this will worsen substantially from 2025 onwards.
At a global level, Trump’s victory in 2024 is already having an impact on the flow of investment in renewable energy. Under his presidency, the US government will once again move away from financing green projects and reduce tax incentives for clean energy.
These expectations are creating uncertainty in the market, especially regarding the future of investment in sustainable technologies. The global momentum for investment in clean energy, which was being driven by decarbonization policies and growing pressure from investors and consumers, is being hampered by Trump’s pro-fossil fuel stance.
Nevertheless, despite all these environmental blows, it is important to note that the global climate movement was not completely dismantled under Trump’s previous term.
Many states and cities in the United States, as well as corporate initiatives, have continued to adopt progressive environmental policies independently of federal policies—and often using them as an anti-Republican political agenda.
Popular pressure for climate solutions, especially among younger generations, has also continued to grow, forcing some changes at the local and state levels.
In addition, pressure from the international community and private sectors seeking sustainable alternatives may continue to push the United States toward greater consideration of climate issues, albeit in a more fragmented and slower manner, even under a Trump administration.
In short, Trump’s election in 2024 is likely to cause a significant obstruction in global climate policy, affecting the United States’ position on the Paris Agreement and renewable energy financing.
On the positive side, the continuation of his pro-fossil fuel agenda and the weakening of international climate policy could lead to a collapse of the globalist and (pseudo-) environmentalist agendas advocated by the Democrats and the European Union, profoundly impacting the global “green” lobby.
However, growing pressure from local governments, civil society and the private sector could still keep the debate and action on climate change alive, even though in a context of greater fragmentation and uncertainty.
By Lucas Leiroz
Published by SCF
Republished by The 21st Century
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of 21cir.com