THE GREAT EXTINCTION: TRUMP & THE THREAT OF CLIMATE COLLAPSE

In the context of an accelerating ecological crisis, the fourth webinar in the Political Economy of the Trump Era series, examined how climate collapse is being politically manufactured, seen most visibly through the return of Trump and his anti-climate policies. The webinar discussed that far from being a passive backdrop to environmental degradation, Trump’s presidency represents an active, structural attack on global climate frameworks, environmental protections, and civil society. His open championing of fossil fuels, withdrawal of climate finance, threats to international aid institutions, and weaponisation of trade have intensified an already dangerous moment for the planet.

The webinar examined how the second Trump term is more disruptive than the first. With the planet now closer to ecological tipping points, shifts in American policy now carry even greater global consequences. Trump’s dismissal of climate science is not just rhetorical but is materially altering global energy trajectories, the fight against climate change, delaying action in the Global South, and legitimising extractive and authoritarian models of governance. The erosion of moral legitimacy among Western democracies further undermines efforts by civil society. The speakers underscored the growing dissonance between the language of ‘just transition’ and the reality of energy projects that displace already marginalised communities.

The speakers also discussed the predicament facing the Global South, highlighting how countries like India are caught in a contradictory position. On one hand, they seek climate finance and access to clean technologies to support adaptation efforts, strengthen resilience, and meet decarbonisation goals. On the other hand, they are compelled to expand fossil fuel infrastructure due to mounting trade, development, and geopolitical pressures. The discussion explored whether the world is entering a phase of “climate authoritarianism” – a political formation where state-led suppression of ecological resistance coincides with deepening environmental collapse. In response, the speakers emphasised the need for alternative frameworks based in in transnational solidarity, South-South cooperation, and the reclaiming of a climate agenda rooted in reparations and justice.

This webinar included speakers Disha Ravi, Harjeet Singh and Soumya Dutta and the discussion was moderated by Nitin Sethi.

Read and Download the report here:The Great Extinction_Trump And The Threat of Climate Collapse