U.S. envoy reassures COP29 summit, says climate action will continue despite Trump’s re-election

As concerned stakeholders converged in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the COP29 climate summit, Washington’s chief climate envoy has moved to reassure participants that U.S. climate action would continue despite Donald Trump’s re-election.

The former president’s victory has cast a shadow over the talks, as he has promised to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement.

The vote has unsettled the U.S. delegation and raised fears that other nations may temper their ambitions, complicating discussions on increasing climate finance for developing countries.

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U.S. envoy John Podesta acknowledged that the incoming administration might attempt a “U-turn” on climate policy but insisted that U.S. states, cities, and citizens would maintain the momentum.

“While the United States federal government under Donald Trump may put climate change action on the back burner, the work to contain climate change is going to continue in the United States with commitment and passion and belief,” Podesta stated, underscoring that “the fight is bigger than one election, one political cycle in one country.”

The summit’s opening was marked by a call from UN climate chief Simon Stiell for global cooperation. However, disputes over the agenda delayed proceedings. By evening, countries reached a key decision to adopt new standards for a global carbon market, a major step toward enabling nations to trade credits toward their climate targets.

COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev celebrated the milestone but noted that more work lies ahead. The central focus remains on increasing the $100 billion annual fund for developing nations facing climate impacts, though Babayev suggested a “realistic goal” in the hundreds of billions.