Brian Laird on WNYC, and now it's being Tuesday, our climate story of the week.

Since the election of Donald Trump earlier this month, obviously many in the scientific

community and the front lines

of the fight to prevent or mitigate the worst impacts of climate change have been concerned.

But a new op-ed in the Miami Herald looks back at the first Trump administration and finds what the

writers call a glimmer of hope. They say, despite Trump entering the White House in 2017 as a climate skeptic, corporate investment in climate action grew.

And that's in large part because of market demand.

So joining us now as one of the co-authors of that op-ed in the Miami Herald.

Stephen Hammer is founding CEO of the New York Climate Exchange.

He is also just back from the COP 29 climate conference in Azerbaijan.

Dr. Harmon, thanks for coming on. Welcome to WNYC today.

Brian, thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

So your op-ed outlines three ways to continue climate action during a second Trump presidency.

But before we get into those, can you remind listeners about what happened in the first term that

you say actually offers a glimmer of hope for Trump, too?

Sure. I think you've got to look at the totality of kind of what the administration tried to do

versus where the others took action, whether it was the markets, whether it was statehouses,

whether it was municipalities.

This is not a, the president controls everything type situation, clearly withdrew from the Paris

agreement. That had some ripple effects in terms of sending market signals. and it controls everything type situation, clearly withdrew from the Paris Agreement.

That had some ripple effects in terms of sending market signals, telling the private sector,

hey, I want you to pay attention to this versus that.

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