Statements from Climate Organizations on the
2024 Elections
Indigenous Environmental Network, Post Election Reflections: The United States of Fossil Fuels
By Brenna TwoBears (Ho-Chunk, Diné, Standing Rock), Keep it in the Ground Co-Lead Organizer
Portland, OR – The sun is out, and the temperature is mid-seventies. It is a nice, warm, sunny day outside. It is also November.
Of course, it cooled down eventually. Then the election happened. The world continued to turn. The matriarchs in my life say, “We will still do what we do,” “We’d be fighting this good fight either way,” and “Be in community.”
So let’s look forward and see what we can do. Like the appointment of Trump’s administration, and in particular, North Dakota Gov. Burgum as Secretary of Interior. So-called “Energy Czar,” Burgum is known for publicly supporting the Dakota Access Pipeline and many other oil and gas projects in his state. We need to take this as the omen it is, as Trump loudly proclaims, “Drill, baby, drill,” in his appointment speech.
On the US federal stance on fossil fuels, Tribal Chairman of the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, Juan Mancias said, “They’re still lacking the awareness [of] or knowing who our spirit is. And I think that scares them because they have no spirit. We live [on] a bigger plantation now. The United States of fossil fuels. That’s what it is. It’s not the United States of America. It should be the fossil fuel states of America because they’re the plantation and they’re making the laws and they’re doing what they want to do. And that’s who’s in an office doing, taking the money to do this kind of stuff.”
What Bergum, and other Trump appointees, have in common is their collective greed and prioritization of the rich. Even when folks seem optimistic about Burgum approving more renewable energy projects, he does so in ways that will leave Indigenous Peoples on the frontlines, battling with the issues of overconsumption. Take the recent approval of the Summit Carbon pipeline in South Dakota: a false solution whose whole economic basis hangs on the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. If there is less carbon, the feasibility of these projects becomes moot. In order to make money off it, they would need more carbon to be released.
What can we do then?
People talk about Land Acknowledgements all the time, but the issue of protecting Sacred Lands will be an even bigger issue through this next presidential term. Look at Chaco Canyon, Oak Flats, the Bears Ears Monument. During Trump’s last term, he opened up Bears Ears Monument for oil and gas leases; despite Secretary Haaland’s work to restore that, we plan for the inevitable fight to save it– yet again.
Considering all this, is it any wonder that even as the Biden Administration goes to pause the new licenses on LNG exports, sacred lands in Texas are in danger from the proposed Rio Grande LNG. The Carrizo Comecrudo tribe of Texas is not federally recognized, so unlike the five tribes in the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, they do not have the same standing within the Department of the Interior to protect their lands. As the desecration of sacred sites continues to run rampant, there is already a history of burial grounds disrupted in the Rio Grande area. Still, Indigenous Sovereignty does not require the approval of the imperialist government, as the Carrizo have shown. The Federal Appeals Court reversed the Federal Energy Regulations Committee’s approval of many LNG export plants earlier this year, a result of years of activism from the tribes and their allies. NextEnergy continues construction, despite the realities on the ground that prove the damage done will add to the degradation and send us one more giant step toward climate chaos.
On the restoration, then the sale of land for the Rio Grande LNG, Executive Director of the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribes Christa Mancias said,“Site prep for phase one is part of a restoration channel that they spent $10 million to restore after this disruption to make it, and now they lease the land to already destroy it again. . . So these lands are being leased so they can build one of the largest LNG’s in the world in south Texas on, you know, Indigenous land, you know, sacred land restoration, you know, channel the right across the street from a wildlife refuge. It doesn’t make sense. Like we’re trying to protect land, restore it, and then you sell it just to destroy it again.”
So if even Bears Ears, with multiple federally-recognized tribes exercising their inherent sovereignty, still have to fight tooth and nail to protect their lands, imagine the fight for un-federally recognized tribes, like the Carrizo Comecrudo.
They need us even more now, and we need to protect the lands even more now. This is the herald for a turning point in our fight for Indigenous rights and Environmental Justice. Stand behind leaders across Indian Country who are fighting to protect our lands, because we are the only ones standing between climate cataclysm and our collective survival.
Third World Network (this is a report on the impact of the election of Donald Trump on the work at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan) November 11
UNCERTAINTIES LOOM AT COP 29 CLIMATE TALKS
Baku, 11 Nov. (Meena Raman and Prerna Bomzan) – Uncertainties loom over the annual climate talks which kick-off in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22nd. Uppermost in the minds of delegates will be the impact of the election of Donald Trump as the in-coming President of the United States, and the likelihood of a US pull-out of the Paris Agreement (PA) once again, as it did in 2017.
Such a departure of the world’s largest historical and current per-capita emitter from obligations under the climate regime will have significant ramifications on efforts to limit global warming. More so, when there is a strong likelihood of the US furthering the ‘drill-baby-drill’ agenda, in a complete about-turn from the difficult decision adopted by governments in Dubai last year, on “transitioning away from fossil fuels….in a just, orderly and equitable manner.”
With the US likely to abdicate from any responsibility on reducing emissions and on contributing to climate finance, the outlook appears rather bleak for the Baku talks.
The implications are grave and portend worse calamities to come. 2024 is expected to be the warmest year on record, as we witnessed untold devastation in many parts of the world, with extreme events of severe heatwaves, forest fires, droughts and floods, with the poorest of the world already paying the cost, and who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions.
The Baku COP has been hailed as a ‘Finance COP’, with the hope that there will be agreement on a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on finance, commensurate with the needs of developing countries in facing the onslaught of the climate crisis. The big question is whether developed countries agree to provide and mobilise significant public resources for developing countries as per the PA. However, judging from the state of current politics in many developed countries, there appears to be public money to fund wars, bombs and genocide, but there is no political will to provide the much-needed public financial resources to the developing world.
Against this backdrop, the climate talks will cover the 29th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29), the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 19), the 6th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 6) and the 61st session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SB61). Among the key issues which will be addressed are set out below.
https://twn.my/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendpress&utm_campaign
Climate Justice Alliance on the Election of Donald Trump, November 6, 2024
Statement from KD Chavez, executive director of the Climate Justice Alliance:
“This morning, we are reminded that liberation requires community. This is a loss for democracy and the rights of everyday people who want to live free from financial insecurity, pollution, discrimination, violence, and intimidation.
“Donald Trump’s allegiance to big gas and oil and all dirty industry will put in jeopardy and likely sacrifice national parks, our sacred sites, and homelands. We understand that federal policy can be both an obstacle and a helpful catalyst for our desired transformation. With the election of Donald Trump we know environmental justice policies and hard-fought wins brought about by our movements over decades are on the chopping block. We also know things will most likely move a lot faster this time around.
“Environmental justice communities will now more than ever have to defend our local, state and tribal wins and protect our communities from increased harm and attacks. From energy transition and ownership to the rights of our communities, many of whom experience the cumulative impacts of polluting industry and climate change on a daily basis, frontline and fenceline communities will be exposed to increasing discrimination, racial profiling, anti-immigrant attacks and round ups all the while dealing with climate disasters and environmental racism.
“We know that our freedoms are going to be attacked but our communal systems, our frameworks, and our people, millions of us, hold the solutions we need to have impactful collective action. Now is the time to protect, build, and deepen our infrastructure.”
350.org Statement on Donald Trump Winning the 2024 Presidential Election, 6 November, 2024
The U.S. election has been called and Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States of America.
350.org acknowledges the outcome of the democratic process while also expressing concern that the election result could set back the rights of many communities, colleagues, partners and allies in the U.S., and that Trump’s re-election could mean violations of marginalized people.
In the face of this deep disappointment, we draw strength from the collective determination and strength of the climate movement. As the world grapples with runaway climate chaos, widespread cost of living increases, geopolitical instability, and violent conflict, it is time for collective constructive action. The need for strategic interventions and advocacy in the US will be even greater given the Presidency will be handed over to a known climate denier. The climate crisis is unraveling with record global temperatures, against a backdrop of deeply ingrained systems of power that influence which politics and policies move forward. The climate movement remains steadfast in its goal of pursuing climate justice, and putting the interests of people and planet ahead of profit.
Next week (Nov 11) the UN climate conference, COP29, starts in Baku, Azerbaijan and countries from across the world have the opportunity to double down on their climate commitments. This is a time for us to keep faith in multilateralism, for global leaders to step up to the climate challenge, and for the climate movement to hold them accountable. The world needs leadership, accountability, and collaboration from Europe, China, climate-vulnerable nations, and climate allies like Brazil. The good news is that both the money and the blueprints for community-centered, renewable energy solutions exist. It’s time to put them together. The global renewable energy transition is inevitable and doesn’t rely on one country alone.
“Achieving success in global climate politics necessitates having an engaged United States willing to own its share of the responsibility. The next Trump administration will be isolationist and dangerous to climate. But in that darkness, there is some hope that in diminished US power, other nations can step up, and states like California can follow.
We will be fighting to ensure that Trump’s election creates a more resilient climate justice movement, one that realizes we cannot separate decarbonization, migrant rights, human rights, and demilitarization. Working together on climate change is in everyone’s best interest. The energy transition in the US will proceed, with or without Trumpʼs support.” Jeff Ordower, 350.org North America Director.
Trump isn’t in office yet and Joe Biden has the opportunity to increase U.S. climate ambition and finance at COP29. These crucial weeks before Trump is inaugurated in January 2025 will determine the Biden legacy he leaves behind and whether he will be remembered as the leader who tried to limit the Trump administration’s damage and keep the world from careening further into climate chaos. Biden must fulfill the US’s commitment to stop financing fossil fuel projects – pause all new Liquified Natural gas (LNG) exports and increase funding and ambition for renewable energy projects both at home and abroad.
Trump’s re-election cannot be an excuse for other nations to scale back ambition. Those who have the least responsibility and are hit the hardest by the climate crisis are already demonstrating leadership, by offering examples of what a more equitable and healthy world could look like. We must not allow profit-focused nations to replace one broken system with another that suits their own interests. Developing nations can stand together and lead efforts to redirect funds from fossil fuels into renewable projects that benefit their communities and make them more resilient.
https://350.org/press-release/350-org-statement-trump-win-2024-presidential-election/
Sierra Club: We WILL Fight Trump Everywhere
Now is the time to rise up, as the Sierra Club has before, in every corner of the country. Will you join us?
We are a grassroots movement of 64 chapters and millions of members and volunteers nationwide. We are ready to stop Trump’s extreme anti-environment agenda and corporate polluters at every level of government, because we’ve done it before.
It's time to protect our health, our communities, our lands – our future. We need to stop climate change: Trump says climate change is a hoax, but we know the truth – we’ve seen our neighbors hurting. We will fight relentlessly to make progress for our climate and our future, in all of our states and communities.
We need clean air and water: Trump is in the pockets of polluters and our health is on the line. We will challenge Trump’s dangerous proposals in court and relentlessly pressure banks and corporations to clean up their acts.
We need to protect our public lands: Trump will undo regulations that protect our public lands. Our public lands belong to us, not Big Oil. We will bring together coalitions of local activists to stand up to anyone who tries to drill in these sacred places.
Now is the time to unite our grassroots network – spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – and stand firm against Trump’s harmful agenda.
Together, we are a force of nature.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby statement on 2024 election results
November 6, 2024, Washington, D.C. – Rachel Kerestes, Executive Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, issued the following statement in response to the 2024 election results:
The American people have spoken. In January, president-elect Donald Trump and, likely, a Republican-controlled Congress will take office. We are clear-eyed about the challenge this result presents for climate action. This moment in American politics will require a lot from climate advocates. It will require a vigorous, focused defense of what our movement has achieved so far. At the same time, it will require a willingness to find opportunities to achieve additional, meaningful progress.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is ready to meet this moment. Our long history of working respectfully across the aisle means we have earned a seat at the table with lawmakers in both parties. Even now, we are well positioned to make progress on evidence-based climate solutions. With the support of our dedicated staff and grassroots volunteers nationwide, we intend to do just that.
https://citizensclimatelobby.org/blog/news/statement-on-2024-election-results/
Last modified: 2024-11-30 13:35:21+00