The ‘significant actions’ taken by the Trump administration to slow US climate action and withdraw from multilateral agreements will “worsen the everyday challenges Americans are facing, from high energy bills and food prices to deadly floods and wildfires,” the president and CEO of the World Resources Institute has said.
Ani Dasgupta was commenting following the new government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, moves to abolish USAID, and the freezing of most climate spending.
‘Deeply concerning’
“The United States’ retreat from multilateralism and climate action at home and abroad is deeply concerning,” Dasgupta commented. “The Trump administration’s recent actions make America and the world less safe, less strong and less prosperous.
“Less safe because climate impacts will continue to wreak havoc on American communities, while the causes of conflicts overseas will likely rise as the U.S. disinvests. Less strong as countries lose confidence in the U.S. as a reliable partner and communities are unable to recover from disasters. And less prosperous as the U.S. will miss out on green jobs and the exploding clean energy economy around the world.”
‘Morally wrong’
Noting that the United States provides more than 10% of climate finance to countries in need, Dasgupta added that halting this finance is not only “morally wrong”, but it also damages U.S interests globally.
“It’s still too early to tell what the U.S. cuts will mean for reaching the $1.3 trillion climate finance target that developing countries need by 2035, but the gap will likely be harder to fill,” he said. “In this critical year for finance and with aid budgets under pressure everywhere, it’s even more vital we look at how to maximise multilateral development bank finance, international taxes and attracting private finance.”
In closing, Dasgupta added that the Trump administration’s actions will cause “significant suffering” for people around the world. “But we hope the rest of the world will continue to pursue life-saving development assistance and encourage global stability. WRI is more committed than ever to our work with partners in and beyond the U.S. to build stronger and more resilient, low-carbon economies that are good for people and the planet.” Read more here.
