What happens when the US changes course on climate?
This is the final post in my four-part series on how Trump’s presidency could affect UK small businesses. With a renewed focus on fossil fuels, cuts to green energy grants, and little support for international agreements like COP, Trump’s environmental policies don’t just shift the game in the US — they send ripples across the globe, including here in the UK.
The odds of hitting global Net Zero targets — already vanishingly small — become impossible to achieve. Yet, we continue to pour scarce resources into an impossible target.
For the UK, this means higher energy costs and taxes as we push toward a goal that is no longer viable. Businesses and policymakers alike will face tough choices: stick with the plan, or start preparing for a warmer world.
What’s clear is that Trump’s policies could set a precedent. With his strong re-election, future US administrations — and even governments elsewhere — might follow suit. That could mean a major rethink of climate strategies globally.
Let me know what you think.
