Former President Donald Trump's pro-fossil fuel stance is prompting some countries and energy companies to reconsider their climate commitments, potentially slowing the global transition to clean energy.
Navin Singh Khadka reports for BBC.
In short:
- Indonesia, Argentina and South Africa signal they may delay emissions reductions or withdraw from climate agreements, citing the U.S.'s continued fossil fuel expansion.
- Energy companies like Equinor and BP are scaling back investments in renewables while increasing oil and gas production.
- Countries including India, Japan and South Korea are seeking to boost imports of American fossil fuels, aligning with Trump's pledge to export "American energy all over the world."
Key quote:
"There is certainly a threat that if the U.S. seeks to either flood markets with cheap fossil fuels, or bully countries into buying more of its fossil fuels, or both, the global energy transition might be slowed."
— Lorne Stockman, research director at Oil Change International
Why this matters:
The world is already behind on cutting emissions to limit warming to 1.5°C, and any backtracking could push that goal further out of reach. While clean energy investment recently topped $2 trillion, its growth is slowing. With the U.S. — the world's largest oil and gas producer — doubling down on fossil fuels, other nations may follow suit, delaying crucial climate action. Meanwhile, major energy firms are cutting back on renewable investments, raising concerns that financial and political momentum is shifting away from decarbonization.
Related: Trump’s energy secretary criticizes Germany’s transition to renewables
