On November 8, 2024, Takejiro Sueyoshi and Shigeo Kato, Co-representatives of the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI), issued the following statement in response to the results of the US presidential election.
Statement by the JCI Co-representatives in response to the results of the US presidential election
8th November, 2024
On November 6, Donald Trump was re-elected President of the United States. The concern for those working on climate change could be that US climate policy might be rolled back under his presidency. If this happens, negative consequences on global climate actions are inevitable. However, JCI is determined to reexamine its sense of mission and responsibility as a coalition of Japanese non-state actors and reaffirm its resolve to redouble its efforts in order to contribute to achieving the 1.5℃ goal.
It is clear to everyone that the negative impact that climate change has brought to the world is already in crisis, and no matter who becomes President, it should be remain one of the top priorities.
Therefore, the Biden administration has taken legislative measures to promote the IRA’s huge investment in decarbonization measures, including renewable energy, the largest in history, and the benefits are spreading across the United States beyond party lines.
This trend will not be able to be stopped by the new administration.
In addition, the strength of the United States is its autonomous vitality of non-state actors, which means that if the federal government does not act, they will do things themselves. That is the American non-state and subnational actors’ alliance “We Are Still In,” which immediately established when Donald Trump announced his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017. It is still fresh in our memory that the American non-state and subnational actors showed the world their unwavering determination and drive to fight climate change. We Are Still In is the pioneer of national alliance of non-state actors and inspired us to launch the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) the following year.
JCI that takes pride in being non-state actors will commit to keeping taking climate action that everyone should take without a single hesitation, regardless of the administration or policies of the time, in order to achieve the 1.5℃ target and leave a beautiful Earth for future generations.
Many climate leaders around the world strongly support the climate action of non-state actors. At JCI’s annual summit, the Japan Climate Action Summit 2024, held on October 18, JCI received great supporting messages from Nigar Arpadarai, the COP29 High Level Champion, John Podesta, U.S. Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Action, and Jean-Eric Paquet, Ambassador of the European Union to Japan, who expressed their strong enthusiasm for achieving results and further accelerating climate actions.
And now, JCI has once again recognized that it is urgent and unwavering to work in solidarity with all people around the world to promote the enhancement of global climate policies and continue to strive to achieve the 1.5℃ target.
Takejiro Sueyoshi, Sergio Kato
Co-representatives of Japan Climate Initiative
Related Information:
On November 6, 2024, the U.S. non-state and subnational actor allinace “America Is All In,” the bipartisan coalition of 24 state governors “the U.S. Climate Alliance,” and the bipartisan coalition of nearly 350 mayors “Climate Mayors” issued a group statement in response to the results of the U.S. presidential election.
