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I got behind on reading comments on my articles for a few days, and I’ve spent all morning catching up on that. Going through the comments on “How The World Can Respond To Trump & Rubio’s UNFCCC Idiocy,” I eventually realized I should really highlight some of them. I love the whole thread, and there are many excellent comments there. Some comments are just especially suited to be standalone articles or combine to fit an article theme.

For the comments below, I am just adding subheadings and slight edits.

Go Around US And Implement Cleantech

“If Europe, all of Asia, Africa and the entire world implement zero emissions solutions quickly, the US posture will make no difference whatsoever. In other words, persuade governments worldwide to implement electrifying everything (much more than just EVs) then the emissions will plummet and the technology will be so cheap that the US will implement regardless of policy. This is not just a US problem but indeed the US sure as hell isn’t helping.” —KeepItClean

Exactly What China’s Been Doing, Aided By The US Oiligarchy

From Steve_S:

“While I am not surprised at the shenanigans (is anyone really?), I believe for the most part, the rest of the world won’t follow along with this and in fact most will double down on renewabl energy tech & electrification in a cost effective & quicker manner. Without a doubt, China will greatly benefit AGAIN with USA getting out of the canoe, making it easier to paddle upstream with renewable development & deployment while stepping up sales to new highs.

“Think of it this way: Big Fossil funded (very heavily) to push the anti-renewables, anti-EV FUD that inundated social media and politicos (especially those getting $$ from their stocks, etc.) from the start. This effectively wrapped a ‘Security Blanket’ guaranteed market protection for China to forge ahead with R&D of all things renewable energy & advanced electrification with little to no challenge from anyone anywhere, which made for an irresistible opportunity which China grabbed wholeheartedly. We ALL know what they did with that, and simply put, WOW! Without any significant competition or challenge, they literally cornered the market & gained such a lead that no one has been able to catch up, especially the USA, which is the flee on the dog’s tail as it is. Then the US plops duties & tariffs + restrictions on everything from solar panels to batteries & all things in between, ensuring it would transition slower while others embraced the tech & moved forward regardless. Globally, manufacture & deployment of renewable energy tech is increasing very significantly and growing at record pace.

“With the US retreating into it’s coal mine & out of the daylight, that will free up more product to go elsewhere and at a lower overall cost and therefore increase uptake. Take the wind turbines as one example of this. Offshore turbines need specialized ships & equipment to install & set up, which are limited in quantity and had to be scheduled far in advance to get a time slot in order to install the turbines & related infrastructure. Many delays occurred, schedules were difficult and sometimes completion dates were pushed way out (increasing costs), and even a few projects got cancelled as a result of lack of ships & equipment availability. USA’s withdrawal will now free up those ships etc., which will make new projects easier to schedule & complete on time & on budget (due to lack of delays). Lower demand pressure should also help reduce costs in other ways (you know, low supply & high demand drive prices up) which is something that will help others go forward faster.

“Of course, with the US doubling down on pollution generation, that will harm everyone globally (we all share the air & seas, too, as neither is constrained by border lines). I feel that others will offset that to a point but sadly it will still slow down our ability to clean up globally. Unfortunately, American citizens will shoulder the brunt of that when the Big Brown Smog Domes return and the air has that disgusting ‘flavour’ in the back of your throat and plugged sinuses. *I am old enough (boomer) to remember the Smog Domes & Air Pollution of the ’70s etc….

“My ‘HOPE’ is the rest of the world for the most part will take advantage of lower costs & higher availability to ramp up renewable tech deployment along with overall electrification towards becoming electro-states while leaving the US further behind as they gave up the race. Without the US running interference within the UNFCCC, I believe it will be enhanced in many ways at a much faster rate and make for even more aggressive adoption & uptake by everyone else to the benefit of the masses. Without running interference at every corner, that frees up nations & peoples ability to get things done quicker & cheaper and I call that a good side effect.

“I saw on news this morning about how the extension of coal plant operations and a massive race to build out more gas plants for generation is already increasing power prices (insanely) for the masses, which includes any business/industry — is already harming folks (health & finances) in the US, especially for those who can least afford it. The ridiculous race for AI data centres and the insanity of co-generation using dedicated gas plants are going to have an extremely deleterious effect on the overall population of the US citizens, which I do not think anyone can quite grasp at this time.”

Similarly but more succinctly, from Are Hansen:

“I don’t think we have to worry about US withdrawal causing a mass exodus from the UNFCCC. China will keep going, and so will the EU.

“If the US increases its climate pollution, its products will be harder to export, as the EU (and maybe others) introduce tariffs based on GHG emissions.”

Europe’s CBAM — Hold Firm

From Chris Drongers:

“Europe has its CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) in operation for steel, cement and some other big commodity industries from 1 January 2026. CBAM for successively smaller industries come in following years. Effectively a global carbon tax.

“As long as Europe holds its nerve and adhere to the CBAM schedule, other countries will follow. As with China, every country will whinge about itm but eventually either pay the CBAM for access to the EU market or reduce the carbon intensity of their exported products (e.g., by switching to low/zero carbon electricity, electrified factory heat, etc.).

“The result will be real, rapid decarbonisation. The required data tracking of carbon inputs and taxes paid will also keep a level of international co-operation going.

“Countries that don’t CBAM will have smaller and smaller trading opportunities.”

There Is A Group Trying To Go Around COP Ineffectiveness

From John Topham:

“After the mostly failed COP30, there is a group trying to work outside of the system. https://colombiaone.com/2025/11/22/colombia-fossil-fuel-conference-disappointing-cop30-finale/“

Trump & USA Didn’t Take Over Venezuela

From JamesWimberley:

“You could start by not falling for some of Trump’s boastful lies. He has not ‘taken control’ of Venezuela. The Chavistas have just arrested a bunch of people on charges of abetting the kidnapping of the Maduros. No Americans are arresting anybody on the streets of Caracas. Who’s in charge?

“Trump’s plan has shrunk in a few days from ‘running the country’ to ‘negotiating a deal for sole rights to sell oil that costs $80 a barrel to extract and refine and has a market price below $60 a barrel.’ Since oil companies won’t touch this without cast-iron guarantees from the US government, the difference — plus a handsome payoff to Trump’s family and cronies — would be paid by American taxpayers. I am not sure he can pull this off.”

And a response from Steve_S:

“There is a video of the meeting Trump had with Big Fossil yesterday and where Exxon reiterated that they’ve been burnt by Venezuela twice in the past and won’t be risking a 3rd. RULE OF THREE APPLIED. And should be noted that other Big Fossil execs sitting there mostly agreed with that. One even said that there is already plenty of oversupply that they have to stockpile & store which is at capacity limits.”

Speculation I Can Get Behind

Perhaps some of this is unrealistic, but I like it.

From Jon’s Thoughts:

“Just to add a possibility to your silver lining: Maybe in three years time the political pendulum swings back in 3 years time and a Democrat becomes President. Perhaps by that time the various committees and organizations will have adopted measures that even a Democrat President would have wanted watered down. But perhaps in a backlash to undoing the harm of the current administration, this hypothetical Democrat President will hold their nose and rejoin these organizations with stringent measures that they might otherwise not have countenance.

“In other words, sometimes more progress can be made in a meeting when the big boss is called away for awhile and others can voice their opinions freely.”

And, lastly for now, from william meyer:

“Metaphorically, Trump is buying The Great Wall of China piece by piece. Once it is reconstituted around our borders, or at least surrounding his very base red states, he will have achieved what China initially did in mirror image…. Instead of keeping the barbarians out, Trump intends to keep the barbarians in. Under his tutelage, he will sic them on any non-believers of his ethereal whimsies.

“A return to the Stone Age in USA should be a promulgation for the rest of the world to advance as they see fit.

“However, the other side of the coin says Trump and his cohorts may have shot themselves in the foot and WE the People manage to rid ourselves of this nightmare. If, pray tell, that comes about … we have to earn back our worldly citizenship as humbly as possible.

“‘He who cannot obey himself will be commanded. That is the nature of living creatures.’ ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

“‘Be careful when you cast out your demons that you don’t throw away the best of yourself.’ ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

“‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger.’ ~ Friedrich Nietzsche”

Featured image: Stable Fool Trump 4-21-2025 by Mike Goad via Flickr (public domain)