**US to Persist in Climate Fight Despite Trump’s Election, Says Special Envoy at COP29**

The United States will continue taking action against climate change and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, despite the election of Donald Trump. John Podesta, the US special envoy, addressed the COP29 conference with this assurance on its opening day, labeling the incoming president a climate denier intent on dismantling environmental protections.

In a promising early development, representatives from various countries reached an agreement on a long-standing contentious issue in international climate negotiations. This could enable wealthier nations to offset their emissions by investing in clean energy projects or reforestation efforts in developing countries.

The recent election of Trump has raised concerns among climate experts about the progress of climate action, at least in the short term. "He has vowed to dismantle our environmental safeguards and once again withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement," stated Podesta. "That is what he has said, and we should believe him." The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C.

Leaders from nearly 100 countries are set to address the COP29 meeting in the coming days. This summit was seen as a crucial moment to find new funding mechanisms to help poorer countries cope with and prepare for the impacts of climate change. However, expectations have been lowered due to the Trump victory, which renders Biden administration negotiators less influential.

Podesta emphasized that the struggle against climate change transcends any single election, political cycle, or country. He expressed confidence that under President Biden's policies and with support from states and cities, US emissions would continue to decline, albeit more slowly.

Notably, delegates signed off on the final component of the Paris climate agreement on the first night of COP29, enabling the establishment of a global carbon market. This market will allow richer nations to finance emission-reducing projects in developing countries to meet their climate commitments. Despite concerns about potential fraud and the permanence of these carbon removals, the plan is projected to activate a market worth up to $250 billion annually.

Adding urgency to the negotiations, the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2024 is likely to be the hottest year on record, with rapid ocean heating and accelerating glacier melt. COP29 president Mukhtar Babyaev warned of severe current global impacts of rising temperatures, stating, "These are not future problems."

With energy and economic crises looming, developed countries are expected to significantly increase their climate finance contributions to developing nations. However, this willingness is conditional on additional contributions from emerging economies like China and Gulf states. UN climate chief Simon Stiell stressed that achieving ambitious new climate finance targets is in the self-interest of all nations, including the wealthiest, as two-thirds of the world cannot afford to cut emissions fast enough on their own.

As delegates grapple with these significant challenges, the high cost of food and drink at the conference center remains a minor but notable concern among attendees.