{"id":350956,"date":"2024-11-12T13:02:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T12:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350956"},"modified":"2024-11-12T13:02:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T12:02:07","slug":"trumps-re-election-a-deliciously-timed-reality-check-for-cop29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350956","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Re-Election: A Deliciously Timed Reality Check for COP29"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Charles Rotter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The global climate circus, formally known as the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the timing couldn\u2019t be better. Or worse\u2014depending on your perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donald Trump\u2019s return to the White House has delivered a well-deserved gut punch to the assembled climate faithful.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/11\/climate\/cop29-climate-talks-trump\/index.html<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After all, nothing ruins a good sermon on planetary salvation like a parishioner who refuses to take the gospel seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While COP29 delegates scurry to manufacture \u201cconsensus,\u201d the reality is clear: global climate policy was always a house of cards, and Trump\u2019s election is the gust of wind that exposes its flimsy foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s Record: Climate Realism Over Ideology<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Say what you will about Trump, but at least he\u2019s consistent. His first term shredded the Paris Agreement and unapologetically promoted American energy independence, prioritizing economic pragmatism over nebulous climate goals. Now, with a second term, the climate crusaders are sweating\u2014not because of global warming, but because their multi-trillion-dollar plans depend on the unquestioning cooperation of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Paris Agreement itself, hailed as a landmark in climate diplomacy, is fundamentally toothless. Even the International Energy Agency (IEA) admits that current commitments fall far short of the targets it claims are necessary. With Trump back in charge, even these ineffective promises are likely to be ignored. Let\u2019s be honest\u2014shouldn\u2019t we applaud the clarity? At least someone is willing to call the bluff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COP29: A Summit in Disarray<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If Trump\u2019s victory isn\u2019t enough to sour the mood in Baku, the absence of major world leaders has surely done the trick. The European Union\u2019s Ursula von der Leyen, Brazil\u2019s Lula da Silva, and other prominent figures are conveniently \u201ctoo busy\u201d to attend, leaving the climate choir without its star soloists\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empty Chairs and Empty Promises<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This lack of attendance is more than a scheduling conflict; it\u2019s a silent acknowledgment that the climate summit routine is losing steam. Decades of annual COP meetings have delivered little beyond bloated communiqu\u00e9s and unenforceable agreements. The true believers, of course, will still emerge with proclamations of \u201cprogress,\u201d but anyone paying attention knows the truth: the wheels are coming off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The $1 Trillion Fantasy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the main agenda items at COP29 is a proposal to funnel $1 trillion annually to developing nations for climate adaptation and mitigation. How to fund this massive wealth transfer? Ideas range from taxing oil companies to levies on air travel and shipping\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an impressive grift, but let\u2019s break it down. Developing countries demand reparations for a problem they claim they didn\u2019t cause, while rich nations pledge money they don\u2019t have. Even if these taxes materialized (highly doubtful), the funds would likely be squandered on boondoggles like solar farms that stop working after two years or wind turbines that can\u2019t survive a stiff breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing Nations: Right to Complain or Convenient Excuse?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The loudest voices at COP29 come from countries that portray themselves as victims of industrialized nations. Yet many of these same countries are doubling down on coal, oil, and gas projects, proving once again that hypocrisy is the true renewable resource. With Trump unwilling to play the guilt-ridden benefactor, these nations may need to rethink their strategy\u2014or better yet, focus on real development instead of chasing climate handouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Azerbaijan: Petrostate Hosts the Climate Cult<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Choosing Azerbaijan to host COP29 is either peak irony or a moment of clarity. A nation whose economy relies on oil and gas exports is now the stage for global discussions on phasing out fossil fuels. It\u2019s like asking a fox to guard the henhouse\u2014and then handing it a cookbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The official line is that Azerbaijan is diversifying into renewables, but let\u2019s not kid ourselves. Hosting COP29 is a PR stunt, an opportunity to burnish the country\u2019s image while continuing to rake in profits from the very resources the climate crowd wants to eliminate\u200b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does This Say About Climate Policy?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The choice of Azerbaijan is emblematic of a larger truth: climate diplomacy is rife with contradictions. World leaders preach austerity while flying in private jets. Fossil-fuel-dependent nations promise net zero. And now, the champions of decarbonization are meeting in a petrostate. It\u2019s all theater, and the audience is growing weary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Decline of Climate Diplomacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it: the COP process was never designed to succeed. It relies on unenforceable agreements and the goodwill of nations with conflicting interests. The result is a predictable cycle of overhyped announcements, vague pledges, and little action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Problem with Consensus<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By requiring unanimity, COP summits effectively guarantee mediocrity. Every nation gets a veto, and any serious proposal is watered down to meaninglessness. Add to this the political instability in key countries\u2014Trump in the U.S., geopolitical tensions in Europe, and economic turmoil in developing nations\u2014and the cracks in the system become glaringly obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the Point?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The most amusing part of COP29 is the pretense that any of this matters. Even if the proposed $1 trillion fund were fully realized (spoiler alert: it won\u2019t be), it wouldn\u2019t make a dent in global emissions. Why? Because China and India, the world\u2019s largest emitters, are still building coal plants faster than you can say \u201ccarbon offset.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion: Schadenfreude and Reality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s re-election is a sharp reminder of the futility of global climate policies. His unapologetic rejection of climate orthodoxy exposes what many already suspect: these summits are little more than elaborate charades, divorced from practical realities and rife with contradictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of bemoaning Trump\u2019s return, perhaps the climate faithful should thank him. By refusing to play along, he\u2019s exposing the hollowness of their agenda. And if COP29 achieves nothing beyond demonstrating that truth, then it will have been a summit worth remembering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The global climate circus, formally known as the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the timing couldn\u2019t be better. Or worse\u2014depending on your perspective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":350961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691823964,691819440,691831435,691831138,691831255],"class_list":["post-350956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-climate-crusaders","tag-climate-cult","tag-multi-trillion-dollar-plans","tag-un-climate-conference-cop29-in-azerbaijan","tag-us-president-donald-trump","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0donald-trump-oil-drill-0311201.jpg?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1tiA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":294077,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=294077","url_meta":{"origin":350956,"position":0},"title":"COP29 Petrostate Climate Conference will be Held in Azerbaijan","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/06\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From Watts Up With That? Essay by Eric Worrall How could this get funnier? Azerbaijan, once described as the nation where it rains oil, has just appointed a state oil company veteran as COP29 President. Azerbaijan appoint state oil company veteran as Cop29 president\u00a0 Published on\u00a004\/01\/2024, 5:19pm Mukhtar Babayev spent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Azerbaijan\"","block_context":{"text":"Azerbaijan","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=azerbaijan"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2GBGQPx0W8AAuYvV.jpeg?fit=942%2C942&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2GBGQPx0W8AAuYvV.jpeg?fit=942%2C942&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2GBGQPx0W8AAuYvV.jpeg?fit=942%2C942&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2GBGQPx0W8AAuYvV.jpeg?fit=942%2C942&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":290823,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=290823","url_meta":{"origin":350956,"position":1},"title":"Azerbaijan tipped to host COP29 climate talks","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/11\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Oil-reliant Azerbaijan chosen to host Cop29 climate talks The Eastern European group of countries has chosen\u00a0Baku, Azerbaijan to host next year\u2019s Cop29 climate talks, according to two sources in the Cop28 meeting room where the decision was made.","rel":"","context":"In \"Azerbaijan\"","block_context":{"text":"Azerbaijan","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=azerbaijan"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0-Baku.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0-Baku.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0-Baku.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0-Baku.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/0-Baku.jpeg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":299131,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=299131","url_meta":{"origin":350956,"position":2},"title":"COP29 Host Azerbaijan Accused of Greenwashing","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/30\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Critics have pointed out their new green energy agency needs a zero carbon transition plan to be credible.","rel":"","context":"In \"Azerbaijan\"","block_context":{"text":"Azerbaijan","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=azerbaijan"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/025490827448_0bb7121d1c_b.jpg?fit=1024%2C556&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/025490827448_0bb7121d1c_b.jpg?fit=1024%2C556&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/025490827448_0bb7121d1c_b.jpg?fit=1024%2C556&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/025490827448_0bb7121d1c_b.jpg?fit=1024%2C556&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":351207,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=351207","url_meta":{"origin":350956,"position":3},"title":"Azerbaijan\u2019s COP29 Speech: A Masterclass in Irony So Thick, It\u2019s Flammable","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/14\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"COP29, the annual climate circus where the world\u2019s leaders gather to wag fingers and wring hands over carbon emissions, is hosted in none other than Azerbaijan\u2014a country whose economy runs on fossil fuels like a muscle car guzzling premium gas. Then comes the pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance: Azerbaijan\u2019s President Ilham Aliyev\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"\u201cGod-given\u201d oil and gas\"","block_context":{"text":"\u201cGod-given\u201d oil and gas","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=god-given-oil-and-gas"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/066ebcd8c846da66ebcd8c846db172672961266ebcd8c846d866ebcd8c846d9.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/066ebcd8c846da66ebcd8c846db172672961266ebcd8c846d866ebcd8c846d9.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/066ebcd8c846da66ebcd8c846db172672961266ebcd8c846d866ebcd8c846d9.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/066ebcd8c846da66ebcd8c846db172672961266ebcd8c846d866ebcd8c846d9.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/066ebcd8c846da66ebcd8c846db172672961266ebcd8c846d866ebcd8c846d9.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":350995,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350995","url_meta":{"origin":350956,"position":4},"title":"Beggers\u2019 banquet opens the UN Climate Summit","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/12\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The United Nations\u2019 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) began today in the city of Baku on the Caspian Sea in the nation of Azerbaijan, a former republic of the defunct Union Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The President of the UN Climate Summit this year is Mukhtar Babayev, who is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Biden-Harris Administration\"","block_context":{"text":"Biden-Harris Administration","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=biden-harris-administration"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0Beggars-Banquet.jpg?fit=1200%2C744&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0Beggars-Banquet.jpg?fit=1200%2C744&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0Beggars-Banquet.jpg?fit=1200%2C744&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0Beggars-Banquet.jpg?fit=1200%2C744&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/0Beggars-Banquet.jpg?fit=1200%2C744&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":325037,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=325037","url_meta":{"origin":350956,"position":5},"title":"COP29 Host Nation President: \u201cHaving oil and gas \u2026 It\u2019s a gift from God.\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/30\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Greens are once again pinning their hopes on a November climate conference hosted by a nation whose President plans to boost gas production.","rel":"","context":"In \"COP29\"","block_context":{"text":"COP29","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=cop29"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/0662b8e641f6e3662b8e641f6e41714130532662b8e641f6e0662b8e641f6e2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/0662b8e641f6e3662b8e641f6e41714130532662b8e641f6e0662b8e641f6e2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/0662b8e641f6e3662b8e641f6e41714130532662b8e641f6e0662b8e641f6e2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/0662b8e641f6e3662b8e641f6e41714130532662b8e641f6e0662b8e641f6e2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/0662b8e641f6e3662b8e641f6e41714130532662b8e641f6e0662b8e641f6e2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=350956"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":350962,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/350956\/revisions\/350962"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/350961"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=350956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=350956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=350956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}