James Carville, former President Clinton’s legendary strategist, boiled down electoral success and successful governance with the following slogan and reflection: “It’s the economy, stupid.” As he recently wrote, “Many Americans do not give a rat’s tail about [President-elect Donald] Trump’s indictments — even if they are justified — or about his antidemocratic impulses or about social issues if they cannot provide for themselves or their families.” As we transition to the second Trump administration and the perceived political headwinds that threaten climate progress, it is important to pay heed to Carville’s quip and its relevance to the future of climate and sustainability. As someone who has advised global corporations on sustainability for two decades, I see compelling evidence that economic forces will continue driving climate action forward. By a large margin, the most important issue to voters in the 2024 election was the economy and jobs. Immigration and social issues were relevant, but inflation and the perceived lack of good jobs delivered the popular vote to Trump. To maintain his electoral mandate, incoming President Trump will have to deliver the economic goods. He will need to create jobs, rebuild the manufacturing sector and support the growth of technology, specifically artificial intelligence, which demands a massive influx of additional energy generation. The Trump administration will not be able to achieve any of these political objectives without continued investment in industries that have a positive impact on climate. For starters, investment in the climate industry during the last Trump administration and the…Why the climate and sustainability economy will thrive in a Trump presidency