US climate envoy John Podesta: Climate fight transcends any single election, even Trump’s win | Science, Climate & Tech News

US envoy John Podesta emphasized that the fight against climate change is larger than any single election. Speaking at the UN COP29 climate talks following his party’s loss of the White House to Republican and climate skeptic Donald Trump, Podesta stood firm in his belief that the battle for a cleaner, safer planet continues despite political changes.

Concern arose among the almost 200 countries gathered in Azerbaijan for the climate summit after the re-election of Trump, who is expected to withdraw the United States from global climate agreements once again. However, Podesta expressed defiance, stating, “This is not the end of our fight for a cleaner, safer planet.

“Facts are still facts. Science is still science. The fight is bigger than one election, one political cycle in one country.”

Trump’s campaign team signaled his intention to pull the US – the world’s second-largest polluter – out of the landmark Paris Agreement, a move he made during his previous term. Podesta, a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, acknowledged the disappointment of the US in the eyes of the world.

Despite challenges, other climate envoys at COP29 stressed the importance of continuing with climate action. Germany’s representative, Jennifer Morgan, highlighted the long-term nature of the decisions being negotiated at the summit, emphasizing the commitment of other countries to ongoing climate efforts.

While the absence of the US at future climate talks may necessitate increased efforts from the EU, Morgan affirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to climate action. She noted the need for leadership in the face of challenges such as rising political tension and climate skepticism in Europe.