US-Elected Donald Trump Could Impact Global Climate Talks

While it is still the hope that COP 29 would result in concrete steps in addressing global warming, US-Elected Donald Trump may hinder the progress. Trump says he plans to undo policies centered on tackling climate change implemented by President Biden once he takes office in January. Trump has gone on record several times to downplay the effects of climate change and question whether the USA should continue to support international efforts. This week, Habet was asked if he believes Trump will put a dent in the country’s plan to increase its resiliency to climate change. 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development: “It will be difficult to say and I don’t know if I am the one that has the authority to say, maybe just from my interpretation and from what I’m listening to and reading and listening on the news is that we have seen that some of the people who are being named to the new administration are people who are not friendly to the cause for supporting the issues of climate change. Some of them don’t believe in it, as a matter of fact. We know we have Project 2025 that speaks about the possibility of moving out of the Paris Agreement, maybe ending some of the legislation that was passed by the previous US administration, maybe some impact on support, like for example, through USAID to countries like ours. But we really don’t know. I think the new president, when he takes over, will really have to make or after he names these people who will be in his administration and whether or not on the first day and thereafter whether or not they will really do what they were claiming to do just before the elections.”

Habet added that Belize will remain committed to doing its part to support the fight against global warming