Biden asserts 'nobody can reverse' his climate agenda, yet Trump is ready to attempt it.
In a speech delivered from the Brazilian rainforest, the president refrained from naming his successor, yet encouraged him to enhance a “strong foundation” of clean-energy policies.
TroibNews 
MANAUS, Brazil — President Joe Biden on Sunday called upon the next administration to continue his climate agenda, particularly in light of Donald Trump's potential return to office in January, which poses a threat to Biden's policies.
Speaking along a dirt path at the Museu da Amazônia, located where the Negro and Amazon rivers meet, Biden addressed the importance of protecting the environment while surrounded by vibrant rainforest. Dressed in a blue collared shirt and his signature aviators, the president stated that upon his departure from the White House, he would leave “a strong foundation to build on, if they choose to do so,” referring to Trump without naming him.
“Some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that’s underway in America, but nobody — nobody — can reverse it. Nobody. Not when so many people, regardless of party or politics, are enjoying its benefits. Not when countries around the world are harnessing the clean energy revolution to pull ahead themselves,” he said. “The question now is which government will stand in the way, and which will seize the enormous economic opportunity?”
Biden had hoped his landmark trip to the Amazon would coincide with Vice President Kamala Harris’ election, positioning it as a clear signal that his climate initiatives would persist. However, Trump’s anticipated victory has altered the context of the visit, highlighting the vulnerability of Biden’s policies in less accommodating hands and making the complexities of a presidential visit to the dense rainforest appear slightly outdated.
Some of the president's announcements on Sunday carried symbolic weight. He signed a proclamation designating Nov. 17 as International Conservation Day and revealed additional U.S. funding for the Amazon fund, a move that requires congressional approval and faces uncertainty with Republicans in control.
Biden also announced that the U.S. has fulfilled its pledge to elevate international climate financing to more than $11 billion by 2024, according to a White House fact sheet, a significant increase from the $1.5 billion spent when he initially took office.
Trump’s election further complicates Biden’s ambition to solidify his climate legacy during the Amazon visit. Some members of Biden's party have criticized him for Trump's success, asserting he should have refrained from seeking reelection and that he delayed too long in exiting the race once it became apparent he was unlikely to prevail. Certain Democrats believe that the ramifications of Trump’s victory should shape perceptions of Biden's presidency.
Trump, who has dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” is expected to withdraw from the Paris accord, roll back environmental protections, and boost oil and gas production, which is currently at a historic high. His transition team is reportedly exploring the possibility of eliminating the electric vehicle tax credit that Biden has championed. Moreover, Trump is already assembling a Cabinet and West Wing team filled with individuals keen on dismantling federal programs intended to reduce air and water pollution.
On Saturday, Trump announced his selection of Chris Wright to head the Energy Department. Wright leads a Denver-based oilfield service company and has questioned the impact of climate change on extreme weather.
Following the Amazon visit, Biden will head to Rio de Janeiro for the annual G20 summit, where global climate policy is expected to be a primary topic of discussion. However, it remains uncertain how much influence the U.S. will wield in these conversations this year. During the annual United Nations climate summit occurring this week in Azerbaijan, world leaders were already contemplating paths forward without significant U.S. involvement.
On Sunday, Biden highlighted his administration’s achievements, noting that his legislative efforts have generated $1 trillion for clean energy technologies and the necessary infrastructure to support them. He described the fight against climate change as a “defining cause” of his presidency.
“Today, I’m proud to be here, the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest — to recommit to protecting the rainforest like this one,” Biden stated.
During the visit, he engaged with local and Indigenous leaders dedicated to conserving the Amazon ecosystem and took a helicopter tour of the rainforest. The president observed the drought-affected Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River, as he flew over the outskirts of Manaus, where green canopies stretched endlessly.
In anticipation of the trip, White House officials minimized concerns that Trump's election results would overshadow Biden's Amazon visit, stressing its historic significance and the vital role of addressing climate change in his administration.
“I don’t think it clouds his trip,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre remarked when asked about the election’s impact. “He’s very much looking forward to going to the Amazon. It’s a historic trip, obviously, for a president to make.”
Yet, as Biden traversed the rainforest at the Museu da Amazônia, with macaws calling out amid the towering trees, it served as a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in the global fight against climate change and the diminishing space for Biden's influence in that effort.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
Speaking along a dirt path at the Museu da Amazônia, located where the Negro and Amazon rivers meet, Biden addressed the importance of protecting the environment while surrounded by vibrant rainforest. Dressed in a blue collared shirt and his signature aviators, the president stated that upon his departure from the White House, he would leave “a strong foundation to build on, if they choose to do so,” referring to Trump without naming him.
“Some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that’s underway in America, but nobody — nobody — can reverse it. Nobody. Not when so many people, regardless of party or politics, are enjoying its benefits. Not when countries around the world are harnessing the clean energy revolution to pull ahead themselves,” he said. “The question now is which government will stand in the way, and which will seize the enormous economic opportunity?”
Biden had hoped his landmark trip to the Amazon would coincide with Vice President Kamala Harris’ election, positioning it as a clear signal that his climate initiatives would persist. However, Trump’s anticipated victory has altered the context of the visit, highlighting the vulnerability of Biden’s policies in less accommodating hands and making the complexities of a presidential visit to the dense rainforest appear slightly outdated.
Some of the president's announcements on Sunday carried symbolic weight. He signed a proclamation designating Nov. 17 as International Conservation Day and revealed additional U.S. funding for the Amazon fund, a move that requires congressional approval and faces uncertainty with Republicans in control.
Biden also announced that the U.S. has fulfilled its pledge to elevate international climate financing to more than $11 billion by 2024, according to a White House fact sheet, a significant increase from the $1.5 billion spent when he initially took office.
Trump’s election further complicates Biden’s ambition to solidify his climate legacy during the Amazon visit. Some members of Biden's party have criticized him for Trump's success, asserting he should have refrained from seeking reelection and that he delayed too long in exiting the race once it became apparent he was unlikely to prevail. Certain Democrats believe that the ramifications of Trump’s victory should shape perceptions of Biden's presidency.
Trump, who has dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” is expected to withdraw from the Paris accord, roll back environmental protections, and boost oil and gas production, which is currently at a historic high. His transition team is reportedly exploring the possibility of eliminating the electric vehicle tax credit that Biden has championed. Moreover, Trump is already assembling a Cabinet and West Wing team filled with individuals keen on dismantling federal programs intended to reduce air and water pollution.
On Saturday, Trump announced his selection of Chris Wright to head the Energy Department. Wright leads a Denver-based oilfield service company and has questioned the impact of climate change on extreme weather.
Following the Amazon visit, Biden will head to Rio de Janeiro for the annual G20 summit, where global climate policy is expected to be a primary topic of discussion. However, it remains uncertain how much influence the U.S. will wield in these conversations this year. During the annual United Nations climate summit occurring this week in Azerbaijan, world leaders were already contemplating paths forward without significant U.S. involvement.
On Sunday, Biden highlighted his administration’s achievements, noting that his legislative efforts have generated $1 trillion for clean energy technologies and the necessary infrastructure to support them. He described the fight against climate change as a “defining cause” of his presidency.
“Today, I’m proud to be here, the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest — to recommit to protecting the rainforest like this one,” Biden stated.
During the visit, he engaged with local and Indigenous leaders dedicated to conserving the Amazon ecosystem and took a helicopter tour of the rainforest. The president observed the drought-affected Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River, as he flew over the outskirts of Manaus, where green canopies stretched endlessly.
In anticipation of the trip, White House officials minimized concerns that Trump's election results would overshadow Biden's Amazon visit, stressing its historic significance and the vital role of addressing climate change in his administration.
“I don’t think it clouds his trip,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre remarked when asked about the election’s impact. “He’s very much looking forward to going to the Amazon. It’s a historic trip, obviously, for a president to make.”
Yet, as Biden traversed the rainforest at the Museu da Amazônia, with macaws calling out amid the towering trees, it served as a poignant reminder of the stakes involved in the global fight against climate change and the diminishing space for Biden's influence in that effort.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
