Paris climate deal

[Tashyboy]

So Mr Trump has pulled America out of the climate deal. But was he right to do so, does it disadvantage the USA.
Reading up on this and America is one of the biggest CO gas producers in the world. Banging out 17-20% of all CO, depending where you read. As one of the worlds richest nations it is committed to donating $3 billion ( Americas contribution is $2 billion) to the poorer nations to help generate cleaner energy. Should they not fund it themselves? No one else is now prepared to foot Americas $2 billion donation. Should the USA not spend that $2 billion on itself as one of the biggest CO producers. The rest of the world that has signed up has agreed to cut CO by 2025, but for India and China it is 5 plus years later. He further says that American coal mining jobs will be lost trying to hit targets, but India and China will increase Coal production. Fortunately states in the USA like California have already set there own targets to reduce CO.
Don't want to turn this into another trump blog, but he said the same thing about NATO to European leaders, If you wanna be in it, pay your dues. In essence am starting to get a trump vibe that if you think it's a good idea fine, but don't expect America to pay for it all.
So I thoroughly understand the need to cut CO, and he has said they will renegotiate another deal, but was Trump right to pull out.

 

[User62651]

Difficult to know is the reaction typical anti-Trump spin or is America genuinely getting a bad deal or having to take on too much of the responsibility on climate change. He was elected on the promise of American jobs and protectionism for American industry, also claimed climate change is just weather so I'm not at all surprised about this. He is passing the buck to whomever follows him in 4 or 8 years into the White House to deal with this, not important to him.
Looks like we're going to have to cope with some degree of climate change and all the problems that brings. Else research and technology will jump sufficiently over the next few decades to make power generation more easily from cleaner sources and the issue goes away.

We don't help ourselves as a species really, short termism and money prevails usually.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

The only other people on his side are Syria and Nicaragua. That says it all for me.

 

[IanM]

Is that is? Crikey

 

[SocketRocket]

people are always complaining Politicians say one thing and do another. Maybe they should be pleased when one does what he said he would.

 

[Crazyface]

Go Donald Go Donald !!!!!

 

[Kellfire]

It's like he knows no one respects him and everyone knows he's a complete chancer so he's trying to have as much fun with it as he can in his time in office.

 

[Hacker Khan]

The only other people on his side are Syria and Nicaragua. That says it all for me.

Nicaragua did not sign as they thought it did not go far enough and Syria were not even invited to sign it. So arguably they are not on his side either.

I am sure for a few coal miners in some of the states that voted for him it is a good move. But for the planet it is not great IMHO. Just another example of selfish short term thinking and people knowing the cost of everything but the value of nothing. There was some great trolling of Trump by the Weather Channel yesterday on the front page of its web site.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Trump quoting Paris and Pittsburgh.......Pittsburgh voted for Clinton

 

[Crazyface]

Climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, but what caused the ice age, and other massive changes in the earths climate? Who knows?

 

[Old Skier]

Trump quoting Paris and Pittsburgh.......Pittsburgh voted for Clinton

And as these things are decided at state level its just a political sound bite by Trump yet Three countries have wasted energy writing to the man. Yep Three out of all of the signatories. Perhaps the others had far more sense realising it would have no effect.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

This has been so overly dramatised its unreal.....the story is that he has pulled out with a view of re-negotiating the terms. Not that he's pulled out and stuck two fingers up at everyone.

Normal media, why let facts get in the way of a good story.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

And as these things are decided at state level its just a political sound bite by Trump yet Three countries have wasted energy writing to the man. Yep Three out of all of the signatories. Perhaps the others had far more sense realising it would have no effect.

They should have tweeted him. He can read short messages and they go straight to his phone. Long letters just go over his head, even if they actually reached him, which I doubt.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Loving all the celebrities getting upset on Twitter over this. Most of them fly thousands of miles a year in private jets. Bit hypocritical of them to be name calling over this.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yes, that does make me smile as well. De Caprio drives a Prius so that is okay. Except he also racks up 60k miles, or however much, per year in a 1st class airline seat. He will burn more fossil fuels in 1 year than I will in a lifetime.

 

[drdel]

Unfortunately there is an imbalance in trade with those countries who have artificially low energy costs sending goods to the more 'responsible' signatories of the Paris deal. World agreements will always be hard to manage even within the EU we have seen the rapid expansion of the German economy fuelled by their manufacturing base selling to other EU states goods purchased/funded by cheap 'loans' from the same 'rich' states.

Climate agreements are no different to international trade and the same tensions will always be between the so-called rich nations.
and the aspiring RoW.

Trump is simply saying he wants a recognition that citizens of the USA have the right to have their views considered. Many of the individual States have very strict environmental regulations and these will not vanish.

I think, on balance. he's right to generate the discussion; the fact that German has so quickly condemned Trump's request to renegotiate is to jump the gun and is, IMO, their own version of protectionism.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Or he could just be a climate change denying opportunistic narcissist who seems to be constantly campaigning for his second term so he has taken this chance to seem 'great' to his core voters by saying he is sticking up for US industry and doesn't give a fig about what kind of world he will leave for future generations. As long as he gets a 2nd term.

 

[Old Skier]

Or he could just be a climate change denying opportunistic narcissist who seems to be constantly campaigning for his second term so he has taken this chance to seem 'great' to his core voters by saying he is sticking up for US industry and doesn't give a fig about what kind of world he will leave for future generations. As long as he gets a 2nd term.

By jove he's got it. Nail on head.

 

[SocketRocket]

I read an interesting article in the Times today, it suggested we are making too much of these international agreements that have a minimal chance of doing much, it suggested that new technology will make more of an impact on reducing air pollution in the World.

 

[drdel]

I read an interesting article in the Times today, it suggested we are making too much of these international agreements that have a minimal chance of doing much, it suggested that new technology will make more of an impact on reducing air pollution in the World.

And guess where a fair proportion of the technology will originate, then made/produced in China/India !