Trump: Day One

Trump's first orders as President:

Other disturbing measures included exiting the World Health Organization, and declaring a 'border emergency' paving the way to send US troops to the southern border.

News that Donald Trump's administration will withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change is a heavy blow to our chances of averting climate catastrophe, but it comes as no surprise. It follows his withdrawal from the Agreement during his first term, as well as his threats to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement and the UN's Framework Agreement on Climate Change which is responsible for organising international climate negotiations. Nor do the threats to attack clean energy, which he called a "Green Energy Scam". His inauguration speech included his oft used threat to "Drill, Baby Drill" made during his election campaign.

While the serious flaws within the COP process and the Paris Agreement can't be denied, these are vital international agreements and processes that provide a framework for global action on climate change. By withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, Trump is undermining global responses to climate action. In the aftermath of Trump's election in November 2024, the far-right Argentinian President was emboldened to withdraw the countries 80 negotiators from the COP29 discussions in Baku. Trump's drive to undermine climate agreements and action may have a similar effect among right-wing, climate sceptical politicians around the world.

Trump's attacks on climate action come on the heels of multiple climate disasters hitting the US: heatwaves, back to back hurricanes in the autumn, and most recently the unprecedented January wildfires in Los Angeles. Despite his promises to prioritise jobs and the economy, his attacks on clean energy also threaten jobs in the US itself. Over 27,000 workers in Texas are employed in the wind energy sector, almost 10,000 in Illinois and thousands of others in states like the Dakotas and Colorado. 

Environmental activists, campaigners and scientists will need to resist the demoralisation threatened by Trump's decisions. We know that it is our movement and demonstrations that have helped win stronger environmental legislation and action. One great strength of the Paris Agreement was its ambition to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C. This arose because of pressure from the huge mobilisations outside the Conference Halls and the protests and lobbying of the most threatened countries in the Paris halls. The recent passing of this threshold shows the importance of radical and ambitious legislation.

The climate movement will need to get back on the streets in response to Trump's attacks. Our strength is in our numbers. This means linking the struggle to protect our planet with campaigns to fight for climate jobs in the renewable energy sector, and to stand in solidarity with those under threat from Trump. One stepping stone for this will be to ensure that this years COP in Brazil is the focus for renewed protests and environmental action that forces the right back.

See photos from our Trump Climate Catastrophe protest