The new President of the United States, Joe Biden, was sworn into office on Wednesday under exceptional circumstances, following unprecedented events that shook the foundations of Western democracy. JEF Finland welcomes the change of power and expects the United States and the European Union to cooperate closely to tackle the climate crisis.
“Donald Trump’s presidency was a disaster not only for the United States but for the whole world. He systematically undermined democracy and the rule of law, stoked racism, eroded international cooperation, and pursued a destructive environmental policy. The world is a better place now that he is no longer president,” comments JEF Finland President Risto Rajala.
The United States held back international climate negotiations throughout Trump’s presidency. The world was particularly shocked by the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, whose signatory countries have committed to limiting the rise in global average temperature to below 1.5 degrees through various emissions reductions. In addition, Trump made numerous decisions disastrous for the environment, such as relaxing emissions limits for new cars, weakening environmental legislation, and supporting the fossil fuel industry.
“Unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden appears to be taking the climate crisis seriously. He has promised that one of his first actions will be to bring the United States back into the Paris Agreement, and he is planning ambitious emissions reduction targets. Biden’s approach offers the EU a new kind of opportunity to pursue bolder, more impactful climate action together with the United States. This opportunity must be seized,” Rajala demands.
The pricing of emissions is one of the most important questions in international climate policy. Some experts have proposed that the EU and the United States lead the creation of a global climate alliance, in which a sufficiently high price would be set for emissions, binding on all, with tariffs based on climate impact imposed on countries outside the alliance. JEF Finland believes that the EU and the United States should do everything possible to promote the creation of such a system in international climate negotiations.
“Climate change is a crisis affecting the entire planet and humanity’s greatest challenge. The EU and the United States are major powers, and together they can genuinely influence the future of the whole world. However, it is essential that action be taken immediately, as the climate crisis continues to accelerate. We do not have time to wait,” Rajala states.
For further information:
Risto Rajala
President
JEF Finland
0400563080