The United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement early this year is reshaping international policies stalling progress in managing climate related health risks.
Researchers like Dr Maria Jensen, a climate health expert are worried.
Climate change is no longer just an environmental crisis-it’s a full blown public health emergency. With rising temperatures, we are seeing more cases of heat stroke, vector borne diseases and air pollution related deaths. The decision to step away from global cooperation is deeply concerning.
Dr Maria Jensen
African communities are feeling the impact of the US withdrawal. While case studies could be limited, several overarching consequences have been expressed.
Reduced climate financing is already derailing projects on adaptation and mitigation. The US withdrawal in 2017, again under President Donald Trump, saw African nations lose access to 2billion US dollars in financing.
African centre for a green economy ACGE reports of increased vulnerability to climate impacts such as droughts, floods, food insecurity affecting communities reliant on agriculture and natural resources.
The action by the US deemed one of the leading green house gas emitters, may cause shift in global climate leadership. The U.S accounts for about 12.6 per cent of global carbon emissions, second after China, the largest emitter at 31 percent and India ranking third at 7 percent according to statistics by the Worldometer.
There are fears that the absence of the US may weaken international climate initiatives complicating Africa’s advocacy for robust climate action on the global stage.
Europe has expressed its commitment towards 2050 net zero efforts as it pushes for stricter carbon pricing to offset emissions from U.S industries.
While China and India are emerging as new leaders in climate diplomacy with their push for clean energy investments, Brazil, Russia,India,China and South Africa BRICS are coalescing around a prominent climate leadership role.
Reuters quotes Colombia’s Susana Mohamad, President of the COP16 nature talks, describing BRICS “bridge builders”.
They are trying to create this balance to represent the Global South in front of the far-right governments that are emerging in the U.S, Italy and Argentina,
Susana Mohamed -President COP16
South Africa that had begun the transition from coal to clean energy sources heavily relying on financing to support a just transition lost over 1 billion US dollars of investment following the U.S exit. The European Union has pledged to fill the gap as reported in the Financial Times.
Brazil hosts the conference of Parties COP30 later this year. COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago has acknowledged potential challenges in achieving climate finance objectives due to the Trumps administration withdrawal.
The withdrawal however, offers opportunities for other nations to demonstrate leadership and for sub nationals to reaffirm their commitment to global climate objectives.
COP30 may just be the litmus test for assessing the international efforts in the face of the changing Geo politics dynamics.