Clean Energy Momentum Now Irreversible – An article by H.E Dr. Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi

The US President’s executive order to withdraw from the Paris Agreement refuses to diminish the zeal to mitigate climate change, Significant steps are being taken worldwide to combat climate change, with an emphasis on achieving net-zero emissions by the mid-century.

There’s an increased focus on renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, stricter regulations on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), and fossil fuel subsidy reforms to alleviate the impacts of environmental degradation.

Recently, when US President Donald Trump signed a decree to withdraw from the 2015 landmark international treaty, it did not come as a surprise. The global community was prepared for the withdrawal, but it still caused reactions.

The President argued that such agreements “do not reflect our country’s values or our contributions to the pursuit of economic and environmental objectives.” Citing costs to American taxpayers, he added that it “unfairly burdens the United States.”

Under the pact, world leaders had pledged to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5°C above those of the late 19^th Century, known as the pre-industrial levels.

Off balance

Trump had done this earlier in 2017, at the beginning of his first presidency. Describing it as a one-sided agreement, he stated that the US will not sabotage its industries while China creates pollution with impunity.

He rolled back over 100 domestic environmental protection rules, even though the US is the world’s second-largest annual emitter of planet-warming gases. It is the only nation to have withdrawn from the Paris deal and joins Iran, Libya and Yemen as the countries outside the agreement.

Global Awareness

However, despite the unfortunate nature of his decision and its potential impact on the march to achieve a balance, known as net zero, the global community has increasingly recognized the severe consequences of GHGs that humans put into the atmosphere and the ones they actively remove.

This holds even for the US, where corporate and industrial sectors have committed to reducing carbon emissions and shifting towards clean energy. Over 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies have set ambitious goals, with many aiming for net zero by 2050.

It indicates that government policies have a minor impact on corporate strategies, as businesses continue to prioritize sustainability.

Moreover, under the UN rules, Trump’s order may take up to a year to be effective. By then, it is hoped that awareness of the issue will only increase.

Last time, it was three years before the US could leave the Paris Agreement. However, his successor Joe Biden rejoined in 2021 at the start of his term as President.

Meanwhile, the clean energy industry has matured, with major advancements in electric vehicles (EVs) and battery technologies.

Facts and figures

In 2023, global EV sales reached 14 million – a 35 percent increase from the previous year. Battery demand surged to over 750 GWh, driven by the rising popularity of electric cars. This growth underscores the competitive graph, where manufacturers failing to adopt clean energy mechanisms risk losing their market share.

Therefore, while the US President’s diktat may create temporary confusion globally, it is unlikely to halt the transition to clean energy. A Sustainable future is driven by technological advancements and a collective commitment to combating climate change.

The environmental benefits of renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, are driving global investments.

Solar energy is now the cheapest form of electricity in history. Additionally, the EV market is undergoing a massive transformation, with battery storage becoming more affordable and efficient.

Dignify people’s rights

Since the accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels, 2024 was declared the hottest globally.

Trump’s announcement of declaring a national energy emergency and increasing oil and gas production in the US would be inconsistent with the global scientific consensus on not initiating new fossil fuel projects.

A report by Human Rights Watch claimed that the burning of fossil fuels drove global climate breakdown affecting millions of people worldwide. Residents in Louisiana faced risks of maternal, reproductive, and newborn health harm, cancer, and respiratory ailments.

The international non-government organization implored governments to phase out fossil fuels and ensure fair and objective transition to renewable energy to help people.

The US needs to understand that climate change has increased the wildfires in Florida. Warmer and drier conditions cause more frequent and severe fuel for fires across the state. This is primarily due to rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns associated with climate change.

Call for unanimity

It’s time for countries to step up cooperation in the face of threats to global efforts to tackle environmental degradation.

The nearly 200 countries that ratified the Paris Agreement, should re-emphasize their commitment to its goals and engage in global climate talks.

Each country has set its emission-reduction targets to be reviewed every five years to raise its ambitions. Now is the time for rich countries to help poor nations by providing funding for adapting to climate change and switching to renewable energy.

Importantly, the 1.5°C target is generally accepted to refer to a 20-year average, rather than a single year. Therefore, while 2024 was warmer than that, it does not mean the treaty’s threshold was breached.

On the contrary, it means climate change governance remains a main theme of future sustainable development. The withdrawal of the US from the pledge should only be seen as a fluctuation in the constant upward trend towards climate goals, Nothing less, nothing more.