Environmental leaders around the world have responded to the news of Donald Trump’s election in America with a mix of dismay and fighting resolve.
The Republican President-elect posted one of his most iconic statements on the subject to Twitter in November 2012:
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 6 November 2012
He has since claimed to not be a “believer” in global warming and that he would “cancel” America’s commitment to the Paris climate deal.
Add to this his preferences for “very, very pure, sweet, beautiful oil”, more drilling, fewer regulations, and an end to federal climate spending – and prospects of keeping global emissions within safe limits suddenly seem frighteningly thin.
As news spread of Trump’s victory in Florida, many pointed out the grim irony of the state’s exposure to rising sea-levels:
Hey Florida, nice little Everglades you’ve got there. Thanks for voting for a climate change denier. See you in hurricane season.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) 9 November 2016
Eyes will now turn to the U.N Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, where over the next nine days international negotiators will battle to keep the Paris deal on track. Here’s how the world’s environmental politicians, commentators, and scientists have responded to the result so far:
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion and co-leader of the UK Green Party
A devastating day. For women. For people of colour. For a tolerant society. But we must not mourn, we must organise like never before.
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) November 9, 2016
She also urged solidarity with the targets of Trump’s vicious rhetoric.
It is a dark, dark day but let us be clear: when people seek to divide us we will come together stronger than ever before. #Trump pic.twitter.com/VGKg451AmX
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) November 9, 2016
Norbert Roettgen, a senior member of Angela Merkel’s German conservative party and former federal minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Saftey.
Speaking on German radio this morning, Roettgen warned:
“We’re realising now that we have no idea what this American president will do if the voice of anger enters office and the voice of anger becomes the most powerful man in the world.”
Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything
Whatever happens, it’s time to bury neoliberalism. We need genuine wealth + power redistribution. Only a real left can fight fascism.
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) November 9, 2016
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org
If Trump wins, it savages the planet’s chances of dealing with climate change. In the (very) long run, the biggest result of a hideous night
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) 9 November 2016
John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK
This is the time to roll up our sleeves, strengthen our resolve and work twice as hard to protect what has been achieved so far. And the UK government has a fundamental role to play in showing the world that we’re holding the course on climate action. Announcing a coal phaseout is a step in the right direction – ratifying the Paris climate deal should be the next one.
Gavin Schmidt, climate modeller at the Nasa Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York and founder of RealClimate.org
So just who was it that stepped on that Cretaceous butterfly? I’d like to have a word…
— Gavin Schmidt (@ClimateOfGavin) November 9, 2016
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