President-elect Joe Biden is set to take over the Oval Office with climate-centric priorities on his agenda. The change of pace from the Trump administration could shift how the U.S. is perceived on the global stage when it comes to fighting the climate crisis.
Biden has already spoken with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson about tackling climate change. Johnson also invited Biden to next year's United Nations Climate Change Conference — or COP26 — in Scotland.
Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO and founder of We Don't Have Time, is one of many pro-climate voices calling for change. His social media platform is designed to connect users dedicated to battling global warming.
"I will say, what the world needs, and is in desperate need of, is leadership, and we don't have that," Rentzhog told Cheddar Tuesday. "And it's not just because we have Donald Trump. We have no one else stepping in. And now the timing for a world leader to actually take the climate issue on an international level and take a lead on this could happen."
But a huge challenge, according to Rentzhog, is getting meaningful climate action done while the country remains divided. His suggestion for the incoming administration is to focus on educating the public about the issue.
"I will suggest to you that [the] White House shall not do what Trump has been doing with Twitter, etc., but instead of tweeting madness, tweet about the climate crisis and educate the world about how acute the situation actually [is]," Rentzhog said.
One of the Trump administration's most significant climate policies was leaving the Paris Agreement, which was formalized just after Election Day. Biden has said he plans to rejoin the accord after taking office.
"Without the U.S. staying in the Paris Agreement, I think the Paris Agreement will have been dead," Rentzhog said. "So it's very, very good that the U.S. is now rejoining. Everyone has been waiting for that. But, we must acknowledge that the Paris Agreement doesn't really work yet."
Rentzhog called on world leaders like the U.S. and UK to lead by example when it comes to cutting emissions.
"We need to think radical here," he said. "We need to change tactics."
