Climate Advocates have raised concerns that President-elect Donald Trump’s win could have profound consequences for the goal to keep global warming below the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Norwegian Bellona environmental group said that with the election of Donald Trump, “the United States will no longer be a driving force globally to reach the 1.5 Celsius target.”
According to the group, the outcome means the European Union “must take the global leadership role in the climate fight, and to a significantly greater extent ensure the defense of Europe’s strategic interests.”
Frederic Hauge, founder of the Oslo-based organization, said in a statement, “The EU will now become significantly more important for climate, technology development and restructuring in the next four years.”
As a candidate, Trump vowed to once again pull the US out of the landmark Paris climate agreement, in which the 1.5 degree-limit is enshrined.
Some former Trump officials floated the idea of pulling the US entirely out of the United Nations treaty to confront climate change.
Doing so would end US participation in international negotiations and make it harder for a future US administration to re-enter them.
Laurence Tubiana, CEO of European Climate Foundation, said in a statement, “the US election result is a setback for global climate action, but the Paris Agreement has proven resilient and is stronger than any single country’s policies.”
Separately, Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson said that the election of Trump as US President could put Washington’s commitment to Ukraine at risk.
Kristersson congratulated Trump on his victory in a post on X, stating that he was looking forward “to working together and continuing the excellent US-Sweden relations as friends and allies.”
Hour hours later, Kristersson said at a news conference that Trump’s return to the Oval Office also carries risks, including “existential” ones for Sweden, such as a potential US “reduced commitment to Ukraine.”
Dozens of European leaders will be assessing a new global outlook during a one-day summit in Hungary’s capital on Thursday, with the knowledge that the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president could have far-reaching consequences for the continent.
Despite myriad economic problems and two wars in the neighborhood, all eyes will be glued on Washington to see whether Trump’s return will cause political strife throughout the continent, much like his first presidency did.
European Leaders Emphasize Europe’s Close Ties with US
Nonetheless, Several European leaders congratulated Trump, emphasizing Europe’s close ties with the United States.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics congratulated Trump and said, “Europe needs a strong United States and the United States needs a strong Europe.”
Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuania’s head of state, said that “transatlantic unity is crucial.”
Nauseda pointed out that “the U.S. is a key strategic ally” of Lithuania and both countries were taking security matters seriously.
Alar Karis, Estonia’s President, noted that the small Baltic nation of 1.3 million “values its enduring alliance with the United States, founded on shared democratic ideals and joint commitment to global security.”
Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev also joined world leaders to congratulate Trump on his victory in the race for a second term as U.S. President.
“I am confident that our effective dialogue at the highest level will continue in the interests of the strategic partnership between the United States and Bulgaria.”
Rumen Radev
Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk also congratulated Trump on X, adding “I look forward to our cooperation for the good of the American and Polish nations.”
Italy’s President, Giorgia Meloni, who heads a hard-right administration, said “Italy and the United States are ‘sister’ nations, linked by an unshakable alliance, common values and a historic friendship.”
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