Global Climate Action: Moving Forward Without the U. S.

The world is still pushing ahead with climate action, even with the U. S. stepping back. The U. N. special adviser on sustainability, Jeffrey Sachs, shared this at a recent event. He said other countries are not letting the U. S. slow them down. Sachs talked to many world leaders this year, and none mentioned changing their climate plans because of the U. S. Sachs also pointed out that renewable energy is getting cheaper. Solar power costs just a tiny fraction of what it used to. This makes it a smart choice for many countries. Sachs disagreed with U. S. President Donald Trump's recent comments. Trump called climate change a "greatest con job" and praised fossil fuels. Sachs said this is not true, especially when looking at the costs. As the director of Columbia's Center for Sustainable Development, Sachs has been pushing for changes. He wants institutions like the World Bank to lend more money for sustainability. Richer nations, who are the main shareholders, are not putting in new money. Instead, they want these institutions to do more with what they have. Sachs believes adding more money is not a big deal. He also thinks countries like China should have a bigger role in these banks. The next global climate talks will happen in Brazil in November. This is a big chance for countries to show their commitment. Despite the U. S. pulling back, the rest of the world is still focused on reducing emissions. Sachs' comments show that climate action is not slowing down. Countries are moving forward with their plans, no matter what the U. S. does.