Would another Trump presidency be “game over” for the Amazon forest and global climate? At least there is still a question mark at the end of that sentence! Global warming is very close to escaping from human control, and the chances of this happening would be significantly increased if Donald Trump (Figure 1) wins a second term as US president. In addition to a surge in US emissions, his presidency could result in a four-year delay for global action to contain climate change to reach an effective level. A runaway greenhouse would eliminate the Amazon forest. The reverse is also true and is part of the problem: if the Amazon forest collapses, global climate would be pushed past a tipping point and global warming would proceed irreversibly to a “hothouse Earth.” Trump denies the existence of anthropogenic global warming and withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement during his first term in office (see here and here). If he wins a second term, he has promised to revoke the greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures instituted under President Joe Biden, including those authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (see here and here). He plans to open all federal lands to oil and gas extraction and he uses the slogan “drill, drill, drill” in his campaign rallies. Trump’s campaign says he would withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement again if elected. Project 2025, drafted by the Heritage Foundation, argues (p. 709) that the US should withdraw not only from the Paris…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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