One of the world’s leading climate scientists has warned that another Trump presidency in the US would imperil the chances of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Johan Rockström, co-chair of the Earth Commission and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said a Trump re-election would slow the pace of the shift to cleaner energy systems that is needed to curb climate change.
The former president withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change after his 2016 election, and his return to power would also likely result in other countries stalling on climate action, Rockström said. He also expressed concern about the future of the US’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which provides $369bn in green grants and subsidies.