Not just in the US, but around the world, so many woke up with grief and horror to the discovery that Donald Trump had again won the US election. We don't need to have any illusions about the status quo - the US's long history of abuses of power and its unapologetic contribution to climate breakdown - to understand that Trump's second presidency is a catastrophe.

At a crucial point where our heating climate is already increasingly erratic and dangerous, and we are very close to tipping points, he will pull back hard from global efforts to reverse the acceleration of fossil fuel pollution. Withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement is almost certain, as well as cutting or ending the US's contributions to climate finance, essential for the countries in the front line of climate change.

Maximising US fossil fuel production will be a priority: "drill, baby, drill".

It is not just the direct increase in emissions caused by these actions we need to consider, it's the potential domino effect. We know that even those governments who claim to take climate breakdown seriously already prefer words to action when it comes to cutting pollution. Rich countries have all consistently failed to meet their responsibilities on climate finance. With the US set to drop all of its commitments, it is hard to see others stepping up.

There are some changes Trump may find harder to make than he expects. With jobs from Biden's Inflation Reduction Act largely in Republican-voting areas, others in his party may push back on getting rid of these. Economic incentives to renewable energy investment will remain with technology costs having fallen fast. And Democratic controlled state legislatures still have powers to act in their own domain. But we know that Trump and his allies do not respect democracy, and they will control the entire machinery of government.

We know that there are many in the US who also have very immediate fears from a Trump government - and with good reason. These are dark days ahead. We must stand with them as they fight for their rights and safety.

We also must not let our own government or any corporations off the hook. The standards we have to hold them to are: 'Is this in line with climate science and human rights?', 'Is it fair and just?', 'Is this genuine action, not just greenwash?' Trump's active malevolence cannot be a reason to let other nations to get away with warm words and too little action on climate. 

Another threat here is the emboldening of the far right, in the UK and across Europe. We need to face up to this and the related risk of climate denial.

We know we cannot save everything. But everything which we can save is worth saving.

We can grieve. And we can fight.