Nations Demand Swift Climate Action Following Trump’s Remarks

In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s dismissal of climate change at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), multiple countries and coalitions are urgently calling for enhanced international cooperation. Trump referred to climate change as “the greatest con job ever,” prompting swift responses from groups advocating for immediate action on climate issues.

Global Response to Climate Change Dismissal

On September 25, 2023, just hours after Trump’s contentious remarks, the High Ambition Coalition (HAC)—a collective of countries advocating for stronger climate measures—stressed that the urgency for action has reached unprecedented levels. They warned that neglecting scientific evidence could lead to “irreversible catastrophe.” The coalition emphasized that global emissions must peak immediately and decline to net zero by 2050 to avert the most severe consequences of climate change.

The HAC’s statement highlighted that as the world nears the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the impacts of climate change are increasingly apparent. Vulnerable populations are experiencing devastating losses, and the coalition’s message was clear: immediate action is necessary to mitigate these threats. The statement, endorsed by energy, climate, and foreign ministers from 14 nations, including Germany and the United Kingdom, and the European Commission, underscored the critical need for international collaboration.

Concerns Surrounding Trump’s Climate Policies

Trump’s speech at the UNGA not only reiterated his skepticism towards climate science but also criticized the United Nations and European green policies. He defended the continued reliance on fossil fuels and claimed that previous climate predictions were made by “stupid people” that have harmed their countries. His administration’s recent actions, such as withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement and rolling back environmental regulations, have raised alarms among climate advocates and scientists.

The HAC noted that progress under the Paris Agreement has already prevented a potential four-degree rise in global temperatures, contributing to the growth of renewable energy technologies. Despite this, they cautioned that significantly more effort is required to meet global emissions targets. The coalition called for countries to present updated national climate plans aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal at the upcoming COP30 in Belem, Brazil, scheduled for November 2023.

In a joint statement, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Least Developed Countries Group (LDC Group) emphasized that their very survival hinges on robust climate action. They defined the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold as a crucial limit, stating, “Overshooting this threshold would mean irreversible losses and damage for our nations, and it would represent not the failure of the Paris Agreement, but the failure of political will.”

AOSIS represents 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states in international climate negotiations, while the LDC Group includes 44 nations across Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean, collectively representing over one billion people. Both groups have urged countries to update their climate targets for 2030 to align with the necessary reductions to remain within the 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway.

During the Climate Summit convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres alongside the UNGA meetings, nations have been invited to present their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These plans outline how countries intend to cut greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the global aim of keeping temperature increases well below 2 degrees Celsius, while striving to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees.

Under the terms of the Paris Agreement, nations are required to revise their NDCs every five years. The upcoming COP30 represents a critical opportunity for countries to reaffirm their commitment to addressing climate change and to create actionable strategies that will protect vulnerable populations and the planet.