Democratic Senators at COP29 Express Concern Over Climate Setbacks Under Trump’s Second Term

UN Climate Change/Habib Samadov

In a series of candid remarks made at the COP29 climate summit, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), two of the Senate’s most vocal advocates for climate action, warned that President-elect Donald Trump’s second term will mark a significant setback in the fight against climate change. However, both senators expressed confidence that progress on renewable energy and state-level climate initiatives will continue despite federal challenges.

Speaking on a press call from Baku, Whitehouse acknowledged the looming obstacles posed by the incoming administration, which has vowed to accelerate fossil fuel production and roll back environmental regulations. “There will be no climate Normandy with America coming to the relief of the world,” Whitehouse said, referring to the Trump administration's climate policies. Despite this grim outlook, he expressed optimism that the renewable energy sector would continue to thrive. “As clean energy prices continue to fall and huge investments are underway, big states like California and New York, which are the fifth and the 10th largest economies in the world, respectively, will continue to push forward,” Whitehouse added. “They will push even harder, knowing that they have an adversary in the Oval Office and not a friend.”

Markey, speaking at the summit, underscored the growing tension between the incoming administration and the federal government’s role in tackling climate change. During a press briefing on Saturday, he echoed his colleague’s concerns, stating that it was upsetting that government branches were becoming tools of the fossil fuel industry under Trump’s influence. Referring to the incoming administration's personnel choices, Markey noted that Trump’s cabinet picks demonstrated a clear alignment with fossil fuel interests. “He is not picking a cabinet; he is picking a cartel,” Markey said.

Both senators agreed that, despite the challenges posed by a climate-skeptical administration, the fight for climate action will continue, particularly at the state and local levels. “We’ve seen in the past that when Washington fails to act, states step up,” Whitehouse said, noting that states with ambitious climate policies will continue to lead the charge on issues such as renewable energy adoption, emissions reductions, and climate resilience.

The remarks from Whitehouse and Markey come as part of a broader critique of Trump’s climate agenda, which has drawn sharp opposition from environmental groups, scientists, and progressive lawmakers. While the incoming president’s stance on climate change remains a point of contention, the resilience of the clean energy movement, particularly at the state level, has emerged as a beacon of hope for those committed to combating global warming.

Despite their concerns about the direction of federal climate policy, Whitehouse and Markey emphasized that the fight for climate action is far from over. “This is not the end of the road,” Markey said. “It’s just another battle in a long struggle to protect our planet and future generations.”

Both senators agreed that the younger generation would play a pivotal role in pushing for climate action, warning that the consequences of inaction could prompt widespread youth mobilization. The younger generation will stand up and fight to reverse the outcome, Markey predicted, emphasizing the political and moral imperative of addressing climate change in the face of growing environmental threats.

As COP29 continues in Baku, the senators’ remarks underscore the growing sense of urgency among climate advocates, even as they confront the reality of an administration set to prioritize fossil fuel expansion. While the road ahead remains challenging, Whitehouse and Markey’s optimism for state-level action and the continued momentum of the clean energy sector suggests that the fight for climate progress will endure.

May I point out that Republican representatives attributed Trump's 'landslide win' to the election results, which in actuality show that he received only 49.9% of the votes, while also promoting the 'drill, baby, drill' narrative during the same conference.

Later that same day, Donald Trump issued a statement announcing his nomination of fracking company CEO Chris Wright as the next Secretary of Energy.