United States President-Elect Joe Biden in the Context of the Global Climate Movement

Biden, the Climate President?

As a US-based nonprofit with international programming, Care About Climate cannot understate the importance of the US election on climate action and civil rights around the world. The US government impacts people internationally through its power on multilateralism, emissions, and climate policy. The US pulled out of the Paris Agreement officially on November 4th, one day after the US election, but the Biden administration has indicated that they will re-enter the climate agreement. However, addressing climate change with the requisite urgency and ambition will take more than just re-entering the Agreement. The US will have to make up for our historic legacy of inaction, while simultaneously making a much larger commitment to emissions reductions and environmental justice locally and globally, if we are to respond to the magnitude of this crisis.

The US has historically been the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions since the industrial revolution, and has flouted international climate policy by failing to implement commitments at home. Globally, Heads of State are calling for the United States to take a position of responsibility and leadership on climate, and to do so urgently.

Highlighting the importance of the US Presidency on climate action, Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainamarama was among the first to congratulate the President-Elect. As an island nation whose communities are being threatened by typhoons and pushed inland from sea level rise, Fiji is incredibly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As the President of COP23 ( 2017 UN climate negotiations), Minister Bainamarama called Biden and his administration to action, stating, “we have a planet to save from a climate emergency and a global economy to build back better from Covid-19… more than ever we need the USA at the helm of these multilateral efforts - and back in the Paris Agreement as soon as possible!”

Our Role In This Moment

Four years ago, our team stood at the UN conference on climate change in Morocco when the news broke of the past election results. In the face of then President-Elect Trump’s promise to leave the Paris Agreement that had just entered into force, we stood with other young climate activists calling for efforts on climate justice, indigenous sovereignty, and net zero carbon emissions by 2050 on behalf of the American People. While local, state, and corporate commitments to the Paris Agreement advanced our efforts over the last four years, we are extremely eager to return to our climate commitments of financial support and emissions reductions, and to enhance our Nationally Determined Contribution for global climate action. 

This election drew record voter turnout, especially among youth. Over 50% of eligible youth voters (ages 18-29) voted in the 2020 presidential election, an increase from 42% in 2016. This represents 17% of all votes cast nationally. A survey of young voters found that the environment & climate change was among the top five issues for supporters of both candidates. 78% of all young people surveyed said that they were “very” or “somewhat” concerned about climate change, with young people of color overwhelmingly concerned (84%). Young Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)  turned out in record numbers, led grassroots organizing efforts, and guided the outcome of the election. In a testament to the work of many of these BIPOC youth who spent the last few years organizing in their communities, over 6.2 million people voted for the first time. NBC showed that from early & election day voting, about 13% of the electorate were first time voters, an increase since 2016. Many of these voters pledged to hold the new president accountable on climate. With many Gen Z’ers reaching voting age for the first time, this generation has been active in politics, marches and civil organizations for much of their high school careers, with peer role models like Greta Thunberg & Jamie Margolin, young activists who called on their governments to protect the environment for their generation, even if they couldn’t vote. 

Photo Credit: David Tong

As an organization that represents international youth voices, Care About Climate aims to uplift the experiences of our international volunteers in response to the next chapter in American history. US institutions- which continue to uphold white supremacy- pollute, perpetrate violence against, and deny resources to BIPOC communities. BIPOC communities have also long-led the movements for civil rights and environmental protection and the US must do more to support its communities. We cannot have climate action without justice.

Adama Dampha, a ClimAcademy teacher from the Gambia, states, 

“As a Black African, I have a dream to look for greener pastures in a land of freedom. But with the horrible injustices that are going on in Black communities and to people of color, I myself, and people of color from around the world, fear what might happen if we enter the United States of America to travel, study, or work.”

Under the Biden administration, multilateralism will work to bring foreign interests towards common goals that support progress globally, such as the Paris Agreement. In Latin America, a region that has been manipulated by Big Stick foreign policy by the US since 1904, and where a history of populist leaders have soured their tastes, our volunteers are eager to see a return to multilateralism over isolationism. 

 “The US election outcome means an opportunity to re-encourage and motivate climate action in Paraguay. These are times when we desperately need to join together to face the climate crisis, working towards a common goal,” states Maria Rosa Servin Nasich, a Climate Ambassador Mentor from Paraguay. 

Luis Iglesias, a Brazilian Researcher at EmpoderaClima believes that,

“Biden’s election means a breath of hope for those of us in Brazil. Populism in the US spread to Brazil, impacting our government policies too. A Biden presidency means the return of decency, respect and belief in science as the norm. I really hope that the influence of the US can impact Brazilian public opinions and elections too. The Amazon will not survive another four years of climate denialism. Biden has expressed his concerns about Brazilian environmental policy.”

In the UK, news of the US presidency has topped the headlines. It wasn’t just a vote for America, but for the world. Sophia Wodcke, Social Media Coordinator for the Climate Advocacy and Accountability in Policy team, shares her sentiments:

“As a resident of the UK, I feel greatly affected by the US presidency result. Climate Change is not a country issue, it’s a global one. The result meant that another country leader joined the global climate movement. Leaders can change policy, which can help to drive positive change. Perhaps now, the tide will finally turn and we can sail ahead to fight future climate change. Not just as individual countries, but together as a planet.”  

And in the Middle East, our volunteers look to an administration that will support civil society, freedom and diplomacy, and demilitarization. By promoting the civil liberties of the citizens of those countries, and rejecting populism and militarism, they hope that their countries will have a chance at sustainable development. 

We want an America that takes the lead in fighting for climate justice and gives people of color a chance to breathe: protected from police and pollution.

As the world looks on, we call on the American people to push for strong commitments by this administration to the Paris Agreement, as well as to domestic climate efforts. It is time that the world unites for climate action, and we invite you all to raise a hand with us for this cause. Go to ClimateSign.org to learn more. 

-The Care About Climate Team

Care About Climate is a 501(c)(3) with a mission to educate, empower, and unite people around the world to advocate for effective and just climate change solutions.