President-Elect Trump...

Although not strictly in keeping with the theme of this blog I feel this next post is important. In just 2 weeks the most highly emitting nation in the world is put under command of a climate change sceptic. Now it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon here regarding Donald Trump, however, I will refrain from doing so. What I will endeavour to achieve is rational; balanced post highlighting the problems the progress against climate change may face.

The Paris Agreement of 2015, brings together all nations under a common cause to “undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects”. A moment of great progress in the face of global necessity. Its central aim is to keep global temperature rise below 2degrees and although extremely optimistic, it does provide a necessary first step in a lot of nations in the conversion of national policy with a wider aim. It requires global best efforts to establish appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework. The framework currently has 122 parties ratified of 197 including the UK, US, China, Russia, and India. In the run up to his election, Donald Trump conclusively stated that he would be pulling out of the agreement under the pretence that he believes climate change is a concoction. In November 2016 this changed, he now has an open mind about the policy. However, we must be well aware of his original intentions especially given his leniency to be manipulated by oil and coal embracing states. Similar to the 24 state demand for Trump to kill the centrepiece to Obama’s internal emission plan, the reduction of carbon emissions to 32% below 2005 level by 2030. It is clear that his turbulent stance on climate change could present significant barricades to successfully implementing low-carbon economies global. At least 630 firms in the US with a collective revenue of almost $1.15trillion have used their economic power in the US to urge Trump to reconsider. Only time will tell if the climate change debate will take a hostile turn despite its recent progress in the coming months.