I want to share a very quick thought about President Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement. First, it's a non-issue, a moot point. The climate change accord was non-binding, so we could enter and exit at will. Second, President Trump is correct -- the deal doesn't really benefit the U.S., while other nations, namely China and India, can almost do as they please. Third, let's not pretend that this decision was shocking because it wasn't. This was about as telegraphed as a move as you can get.
Having said all that, the benefits that the Trump administration foresees by pulling out is also a non-issue. Coal, Trump's baby, is declining. The combustion process, no matter how you cut it, will always be inefficient compared to electrical energy. Innovation is about moving forward, not backward. So his overtures to coal miners are just that -- coal mining is only relevant on a quadrennial cycle.
And in a few generations, it may not be relevant at all!
I'm glad he pulled out, even if it is a moot point. At least it's a step in the right direction and gives us a moral boost for the time being..... yes, let's be open minded but also very vigilant.
Or did he "get out" before the spoon hit the cup???? :)
Climate change or not, Trump will make America dirty again. People like Musk should rename their goal regarding our environment and work towards decreasing pollution, the climate will follow
To your first point, I don't think pulling out is a moot point because it's non-binding. If it was binding, would it even be feasible to back out? Backing out of the agreement is a selfish message to the world that the US will serve themselves before it serves the planet.
If China and India were a problem, then wouldn't it be possible for the other countries signed onto the agreement to punish these India and China in some way?
To your third point, even though it may have seem telegraphed, I still think people can be genuinely shocked by this. Trump bloviated about a lot of things while campaigning, but he has not followed through with a lot of his promises. He's changeable as anyone (think about how he quickly shifted his opinion on North Korea after a few minutes talking with the Xi Jinping).
I totally agree with your last point. Coal is dying anyway, and clean energy is providing many jobs. But still, it's disconcerting to see our government clinging to their big business ideologies
It is moot because it's non-binding, right? I wouldn't say it's moot if it was binding, and somehow, Trump forcibly got out of the agreement. And this was all down to score political points. For Trump, it made sense -- he needs the support from his core constituency, and going strong on a moot point gave him a "free ride," so to speak.
He's right to pull out of it and it backs up his election pledge.
I totally agree that clean technologies should prevail and they will (at the expense of coal etc). However, I'm in the climate change hoax camp and therefore believe that the Paris treaty is a scam to de-industralise the west.
The UN wants to completely redistribute wealth by attacking the most successful countries. How better to do it than to set binding limits on emissions of a natural gas (CO2). There is not an aspect of our lives that doesn't involve the release of CO2! The whole carbon tax thing is stupid and just a way of controlling us all (agenda 21).
Regarding the globalist agenda to attack successful countries -- agreed 200%, if such a thing were possible. I think it's in line with the university administrators attacks on Asian students who score very well on standardized testing ... makes no sense to attack achievement and success, unless it is to promote a nefarious agenda.
I'm on the side of climate change being real, but I'm very open-minded on this issue and would love to be proven wrong. I just look at it from a basic, scientific perspective...no combustion process is "free." As far as I know, matter cannot be created -- only the transfer of one state to another. If so, when we engage in industrial combustion, that "stuff" has to go somewhere. My brain is a little fried right now, but anyways, I respect your argument -- and it's an issue where I see the merits on both sides.
Yes always good to be open minded and adapt one's thoughts when new information comes to light.
This video is a good summary IMO:
I struggle to understand what Trump's objective is with pulling the US out of the Paris Agreement. The agreement is not binding. Rather than just ignore the agreement and do nothing ,why does he go through the effort of creating so much controversy? Its like he wants to be unpopular..
In all seriousness, country leaders should start doing what their roles imply and LEAD their country forward. People are tired of hearing bullshit from politicians who don't represent the ideas of the very people who got them elected. I mean c'mon we have achieved amazing things, we have self driving cars, we are developing nano technology, there are even programs working to get us to Mars, yet few can say that they believe their leaders are doing whats in everyone's best interest. It's about time we make politicians accountable for their actions.
I think he sees it as an opportunity to bolster his political base -- coal miners, blue-collar workers, etc. He's been suffering in the opinion polls, and some fissures are developing. This is a way to slam dunk an easy, moot point.
I think he's done it to show that he keeps his election promises! Hasn't Australia done something similar
We knew this was likely as Trump cares mostly about money and his friends in coal and oil. The US will have to adapt to a low carbon economy like the rest of the world if we are to have a future. It's not just about CO2, we need to manage resources and stop polluting the air, water and ground. That seems like common sense to me.
I agree on the management of the environment issue -- Trump is just bolstering his core support base. I think he knows better (ie. that coal is a dying industry).
You hope he knows what is going on. He needs to trust good advisors and not just his 'instincts'. Interesting piece by a former Whitehouse worker https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/01/donald-trump-incompetence-white-house-staff-intervention