Climate Resilience Unwavering Amid Trump’s Paris Exit Pledge

AFP/APP

Baku: Global action against climate change remains strong and resilient, even following the re-election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to exit the Paris Agreement, asserted Simon Stiell, the United Nations climate chief, on Tuesday at the COP29 summit in Baku.

Addressing concerns over Trump’s renewed opposition to climate agreements, Stiell reassured reporters, stating, “Our process is strong. It’s robust, and it will endure.” His remarks come as Trump’s election win looms over the climate discussions in Azerbaijan.

Still emphasized that the COP29 summit must reinforce global solidarity on climate action, stressing that “global cooperation is the only way humanity survives global warming.”

The talks at COP29 have largely focused on expanding financial resources to help developing nations combat climate change and transition away from fossil fuels.

However, wealthier countries providing funds have advocated for a broader donor base and have resisted calls to increase the annual $100 billion climate fund pledge tenfold.

This resistance reflects concerns about inflation and economic challenges in donor nations, which some feel should take precedence over climate spending.

Despite these obstacles, Stiell insisted that economic stability and climate action are interlinked. “The climate crisis is fast becoming an economy killer,” he warned, underscoring that without decisive action, economies and households worldwide will face greater hardship.

He described climate initiatives as “global inflation insurance,” urging leaders to recognize the long-term economic benefits of climate resilience.