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US Secretary of State John Kerry signs the COP21 UN Climate Change agreement.
US Secretary of State John Kerry signs the COP21 UN Climate Change agreement
15 December 2016

As the dust settles following Donald Trump’s shock US presidential win, researchers from Queensland, South Africa and the US believe it is not all doom and gloom for the environmental community.

Õ¬Äе¼º½’s of the and said the environmental movement should proactively seize opportunities over the next four years.

“China, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil and other countries have already indicated they will forge ahead with implementing the climate treaty signed in Paris, irrespective of the US position.”

In his article published today in , Dr Biggs said the withdrawal of the US federal government from the international environmental movement provided space and opportunity for others like cities, states, companies, and communities to take action.

“The next four years will likely be challenging for the environmental movement, and megaphone diplomacy with the US government will be needed,” he said.

“By proactively seizing opportunities, the environmental movement will be strengthened beyond a Trump presidency.”

Dr Biggs is also a senior research fellow with ’s Environmental Futures Research Institute and , South Africa.

The research published in Nature, also involved Õ¬Äе¼º½ PhD student Hubert Cheung and Associate Professor James Watson of the Õ¬Äе¼º½ School of Biological Sciences and the ; as well as scientists from and .  

Above:  Paris COP21 Climate Change participants pose for a group photo following ratification of the agreement in November 21, 2015.  More than 195 countries pledged to reduce carbon emissions in the landmark agreement. 

Media: d.biggs@uq.edu.au, +61 (0) 422 09 7024.