From Watts Up With That?

Essay by Eric Worrall

Does US taxpayer cash drive the global climate movement?

Australia may delay release of 2035 climate target as world awaits outcome of US election

Experts urge Australia not to delay target too long as report by Climate Change Authority identifies six barriers to net zero

Adam Morton Climate and environment editorThu 5 Sep 2024 14.48 AEST

The Australian government may delay the announcement of a 2035 climate target until after the February deadline and beyond the next election, in part due to uncertainty about the ramifications of the US presidential election.

Some big emitting countries are lagging in developing their 2035 emissions reduction targets, which under the Paris climate agreement are due before the UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil, in November next year.

Major investors said they were comfortable with countries delaying target announcements if it meant they did the work to make a commitment that was “aligned with science” and reaching “for the highest possible level of ambition”.

…

Globally, governments are watching the US election before finalising their 2035 commitments. Observers believe Kamala Harris will quickly announce a target if successful but Donald Trump, who has called the climate crisis a “hoax”, has said he would again pull the US out of the Paris deal.

…Read more:

 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/sep/05/australia-2035-climate-change-target-cca-net-zero

Is the entire global climate movement a political chimera driven by US taxpayer cash? Is the world dancing to America’s tune?

OK probably not the entire climate movement. European nations like Germany have proven entirely capable of shooting themselves in the foot without US help. But Europe is a declining power, their ability to influence global events is crumbling thanks to their demographic decline and their inability to bring down industrial costs such as the cost of energy.

The USA calls the shots with global climate policy, now and for the foreseeable future.

Of course, regardless of the expediency of the hour, Australian politicians are still betting heavily on a Kamala victory. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese picked an outspoken critic of President Trump as Australia’s ambassador to the USA back in 2022, and has repeatedly defended his decision, despite Trump’s climb in the polls.