Following the Trump administration’s decision to erase the ‘endangerment finding’ that climate change impacts human health and the environment, the European Green Party has called on European leaders to step up their commitment to clean energy and decarbonisation.
Commenting on the changes at the US Environmental Protection Agency, which were set out by Trump last week, European Green Party co-chair Ciarán Cuffe said that the US president’s decision was “morally wrong, and painful to witness”.
‘Losing the race’
Cuffe added that the move is also “economically short-sighted”, adding, “in a climate-constrained world, those who refuse to act will lose allies. Painful as Trump’s policy is, the USA‘s difficulty is the EU’s opportunity, particularly with the good news that shows that China’s mass investment in renewable energy leads to ‘flat or falling’ CO2 emissions.
“The USA will lose the race to decarbonise in a climate-constrained world if it fails to take action. Trump has created this transatlantic divide, and this new reality is an economic opportunity for Europe.”
‘A strategic opening’
While increased European leadership on environmental issues is likely to put further strain on EU-US trade relations, it should also present a “strategic opening for Europe to lead,” added European Green Party co-chair Vula Tsetsi.”
“Climate change is increasingly seen as a security issue because it leads to shortages of resources, instability, and rising geopolitical tensions, making international cooperation more important. While the US locks itself into fossil fuels, Europe is investing in renewable energym which is now the most cost-competitive source of new electricity generation in 2024. If the US steps away from the clean technology race, Europe can and must seize the opportunity to lead on climate policy.”
She added that doubling down presents Europe with an opportunity to secure geopolitical autonomy.
“It will strengthen our competitiveness (much more than any 20th century deregulation project that German Chancellor Merz and Italy PM Meloni are proposing), will create even more quality jobs and Europe will be free when it’s free from fossil fuel. When managed skilfully by Europe’s leaders, this can also become Europe’s moment,” she noted. Read more here.
