LET US GO ON WITHOUT TRUMP’ CLIMATE CAMPAIGNERS …WE’VE OPTIONS TO FINANCE CLIMATE CHANGE

By Jeff Kapembwa

The European Union and other interest groups have reacted with cynicism, to the United States President’s executive order to withdraw funds from the Paris Agreement at the height of the global war against climate change financing, arguing they will sustain the fight with or without the superpower.

US President, Donald Trump had upon being inaugurated for his second four-tenure signed an executive order, signed an executive order again, after having earlier signed on 22 April 2016, withdrew on 4 November 2020 before rejoining the Paris Agreement on 19 February 2021.

According to Article 28, paragraph two, of the Paris Agreement, the withdrawal of the United States will take effect on January 27, 2026. The UN on Tuesday confirmed the US’ formal notification of its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

US President Donald Trump originally withdrew the US from the climate agreement in 2019 was reversed by his successor, former President Joe Biden.

The US had notified the Secretary-General (António Guterres), in his capacity as a depository, of its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on January 27 of this year, said Stephane, the UN spokesman.

The UN remains committed to its global commitment to climate action, and, according to the spokesperson: “We reaffirm our commitment to the Paris Agreement and support all effective efforts to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

The European Union leaders have added their weight to the support towards the success of the Paris Agreement and vowed to support the anti-climate change fight to the hilt until it succeeds.

During the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, various responses were echoed by leaders from the 28-member European grouping over Trump’s ‘change of heart’ stating in no uncertain terms that they will hold for and remain a part of the global climate pact.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said: “Europe will stay the course, and keep working with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming.”

She insisted that the 27-nation bloc will stick to the landmark Paris climate accord. “The Paris Agreement continues to be the best hope for all humanity,” she is cited by Associated Press as saying.

The Paris accord aims at limiting long-term global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) or, failing that, keeping temperatures at least well below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels.

Minutes before von der Leyen spoke, climate activists sprung a surprise and rare action inside the normally ultra-secure venue, unfurling a banner that read: “Tax the super-rich! Fund a just and green future.”

United Nation’s climate chief, Simon Stiell speaking at a panel looking ahead to this year’s upcoming climate talks in Brazil said the “door remains open” for the United States.

“The world is undergoing an unstoppable energy transition. Last year alone, over $2 trillion was invested in the transition (to clean energy). And that compares to one trillion in fossil fuels,” he said

Stiell said that there is “crisis fatigue” in the world now. “The poly crisis environment that we’ve been in for the last few years, the climate has been pushed down the crisis priority list,” he said. However, he said that regardless of political changes, “the science behind climate hasn’t changed.

Michael Bloomberg, the US financial magnet does not feel disturbed by the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and has committed to financing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) UNFCCC, a commitment adopted at COP 21 in 2015.

Arguably, this agreement by all parties was to limit the increase in global average temperatures to “well below 2C” above pre-industrial levels, while “pursuing efforts” to restrict the rise to 1.5C.

The UNFCCC is the UN entity tasked with overseeing and accelerating progress towards the Paris Agreement goals.

The US provides approximately 22% of the UNFCCC secretariat’s budget, with the body’s operating costs projected at $96.5m for 2024-2025.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg committed, for the second time, to further uphold the USA’s reporting obligations under the Paris Agreement by tracking and reporting the nation’s non-federal climate commitments.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell said: “Contributions like this are vital in enabling the UN Climate Change secretariat to support countries in fulfilling their commitments under the Paris Agreement and advancing a low-emission, resilient, and safer future for all.”

While Trump’s withdrawal of funding to the UNFCCC may sound inconsequential, some factors might affect its smooth operation and financing to fight global warming, which the UN fears could affect many people and the environment.

Experts estimate that about $11 billion a year of funding for climate projects in developing countries is under threat from Trump’s review (for 90 days) as signed under the executive orders and subsequently punish Africa, one of the continents heavily affected by climate change.

Arguably, the US contributed about US$11 billion in 2024 to help developing countries reduce planet-heating emissions and adapt to climate change – but all current and future projects are now under threat from the broader aid review.

Mattias Söderberg, a global climate lead at Danish charity DanChurchAid, which receives funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) argues:

 “We are not surprised, but very disappointed,” he said. “Every dollar makes a difference, and when aid is paused, it has an effect on people on the ground in some of the most vulnerable countries.”

The CEO of the humanitarian charity Mercy Corps, Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, called on governments, civil society, and the private sector to “step up where leadership is lacking and accelerate efforts to reduce emissions, scale up climate finance, and contribute to a climate-resilient future for all people.”

The executive order issued on climate change was hinged on an accusation that the 2015 global deal of steering “American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require, or merit, financial assistance in the interests of the American people”.

The document also requires the heads of government departments and federal agencies tasked with disbursing climate funds overseas to submit within 30 days a report detailing their actions “to revoke or rescind” policies implemented to support former President Joe Biden’s international climate finance plan.

Joe Thwaites, senior advocate for international climate finance with the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council, said Trump’s assault on overseas climate funding had not come as a surprise but may not work as the president is hoping.

“Everyone expected Trump to again try to zero out US climate finance. But it’s ultimately up to Congress whether that happens,” Thwaites said. “Last time they rejected the most draconian of Trump’s proposed cuts, and we hope they will do so again.”

The executive order also added that the US would “immediately cease or revoke any purported financial commitment made by the United States under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).”

During the first Trump administration, the US continued to fund the UNFCCC and to report emissions data. But Cambridge University academic Joanna Depledge said this language suggests they are unlikely to do so again. The US contributes about a fifth of the UNFCCC’s budget.

The Biden administration had promised to work with Congress to deliver $3 billion to the UN’s Green Climate Fund.

This money has not been received by the UN fund – which is also still owed $1 billion from a previous US pledge – and is very unlikely to be delivered under Trump.