"Surangel Whipps, president of the tiny Pacific nation of Palau, was sitting in the front row of the UN's general assembly in New York when Donald Trump made a long and rambling speech, his first to the UN since his re-election, on 23 September. Whipps was prepared for fury and bombast from the US president, but what followed was shocking."
"Palau, threatened by rising sea levels, floods and more intense storms, is home to nearly 20,000 people, all likely to be made refugees if global heating surpasses 1.5C for a prolonged period, a likelihood they are desperate to prevent. They know they are just the beginning, the frontline. Globally, hundreds of millions of people's homes and livelihoods will be destroyed by climate breakdown within decades."
"a populist tide has swept in, turning back or threatening progress in many democracies. Trump's words were just the most extreme expression of a global rightwing trend. In the EU, hard-right political groupings delayed key decisions on emissions targets, and are seeking further abandonment of climate action. The UK's poll-topping Reform party openly embraces denial. In Argentina, Trump ally Javier Milei has taken his chainsaw to climate policy as well as the economy."
Donald Trump's UN speech dismissed the climate crisis and attacked climate science and global action. Palau's president watched in shock as his nation of nearly 20,000 faces potential displacement if warming exceeds 1.5C. Hundreds of millions worldwide risk losing homes and livelihoods to climate breakdown within decades. A global populist and rightwing surge is reversing or threatening climate policy progress in many democracies. In the EU, hard-right groups delayed emissions decisions and seek to abandon action. The UK's Reform party and Argentina's Javier Milei openly reject climate policy. Global polls show 89% concern and demand for action.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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