Did Trump Just Kill the Paris Climate Deal?
By Thom Hartmann A...
The United States of America might just survive President Donald Trump.
The climate - on the other hand - probably won't.
Right now, world leaders from hundreds of countries are meeting in Marrakech, Morocco to mark the implementation of the Paris climate deal.
That deal isn't perfect - but it still commits the world to keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels - the standard cutoff point after which scientists say global warming will lock-in with devastating consequences for every living thing on the planet.
It's the best chance we have of stopping runaway climate change - which is why this week's meeting was supposed to be a celebration.
Now it's turned into something of a funeral.
If Donald Trump follows through with what he said he'd do on the campaign trail and cancels all climate change commitments made by President Obama, the Paris Climate Deal is dead.
The U.S. is still the world's largest emitter of toxic greenhouse gasses - and if we back out of the deal - the Paris deal is about as effective as a blunt knife.
At this point, there is little to no reason for optimism.
But John Kerry apparently still has hope.
He told the Marrakech conference yesterday that actually serving in the White House might cause Donald Trump to rethink some things about the climate.
Obviously, an election took place in my country. And I know it has left some here and elsewhere feeling uncertain about the future. I obviously understand that uncertainty. And while I can't stand here and speculate about what policies our president-elect will pursue, I will tell you this: In the time that I have spent in public life, one of the things I have learned is that some issues look a little bit different when you're actually in office compared to when you're on the campaign trail.
Expecting the guy who thinks it's all a Chinese hoax to suddenly see the light about the global warming might be a little ambitious - but who knows.
Anything can happen, especially in 2016.
John Kerry is 100 percent correct about one thing, though: once Donald Trump takes office he will face some strong opposition WITHIN the government to his dangerously ignorant opinions about climate change.
The Pentagon, for example, considers global warming one of - if not the biggest - threats to American national security.
So what is Trump going to do?
Will he ignore the generals to satisfy his ego or his donors?
Or will he prove he's the pragmatist President Obama says he is and, after the Pentagon explains to him that his billionaire funders have been lying to him and the American people - take action to stop climate change?
Comments
#2
While climate change is real, all these proposed agreements are horse manure.
Focus on energy breakthroughs that make coal and gas cost ineffective.
ct
#3
Electoral College votes Dec 19 & is it politics or planet? Clinton won the popular vote!
#4
In Karen Shragg's wonderful new little book, "MOVE UPSTREAM, Solving the Overpopulation Problem", she uses the simple metaphor of moving upstream to find the source of a water quality problem. In this case, as in her book, human overpopulation is the source of ALL environmental degradation problems, but is never mentioned by the environmentally concerned. Staying focused on the downstream environemtal effects of human overpopulation must give a warm and fuzzy feeling to all those so preoccupied, but it does absolutely nothing to reduce the impact of too many humans on the planet's resources and ability to handle our ever greater waste production. Like Karen says, move upstream and stop wasting your time on the secondary effects of human overpopulation. Thanks for this opportunity and your terriffic website!
#5
A threat to our national security was the FBI and Putin rigging our election to put Trump in the White House.
I wonder how the Pentagon feels about a President who has enormous financial ties to an expansionist dictator?....what, no national security risk there..lmao.
In the red states the Dems got hacked to beat hell in this election....I realize that no one wants to talk about this, but we won't win another election until the digital machines are banned.
#6
Trump once said that nothing was set in cement. He was referring to aspects of some deal at the time. Also, in an interview, he said he was willing to listen to anybody as long as they were presenting facts and not just opinion. Once in the WH, I'm sure there will be those who approach him with the statistics and show him the devastation of carbon emissions. I think he may very well re-think his position given the chance and the facts because I thinkhe has a very proactical side to him that will stand us in good stead. He said he wants to be the father of ALL the people in America. I like this because it means if we petition our president that he will give us a fair hearing before he decides. He might also take into consideration letter writing campaigns if the people are that committed to a particular solution. I think this is wonderful and it gives me hope that good things can come from a very Republican administration.
#7
Dream on ErinRose. Trump is in so far over his head that he has no clue what is a fact or fiction. His team is busy surrounding him with the most toxic waste that the Republican party can vomit up and Trump and the rest of the world could easily drown in it. It will literally be a miracle if we survive even his first four year term.
In fact, after he is sworn in, the Republican party will no longer have any use for him either. Does he really think that they will tolerate such an uncontrollable, impulsive and unpredictable leader to further their ideological march to an all out, Alt Right Oligarchy? "Beware of the ides of March!"
#8
Thom,
Many of us understand that we won't adequately address the climate crisis without real significant political/electorial reforms here in the U.S.A. We know we have had elections stolen. You and others have repeatedly asked how can we keep the momentum of our revolution going after the elections.
I have proposed a relatively simple plan how we may better organize and take proactive action in more consistent and persistent ways and posted it here on your site in a member blog titled, Electorial Truth and Consequences. The second half of the blog contains a list of proposed demonstration dates which is the important part. I would love to hear what you, Thom, think about it.
These proposed demonstration dates will need to be promoted by many people and organizations to be effective.
It's hard enough to gain the attention of Thom Hartmann for an average joe, but I'm trying because I've been tagged and now I'm it.
Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry all had elections stolen and Bernie had the nomination stolen. They should all champion electoral reforms along with the PDA and every person and organization that cares for the future.
Nine dates spanning from December through July gives us all ample planning time.
And as far as Trump's ego is concerned....we could use that to our advantage and provide him a real opportunity to drain the swamp and become a real hero. You can read about that here too.
#9
Thom, You've been badly misinforming your listeners this week on the electoral college, yesterday mentioning 6 California electors switching their votes. Hillary won California, if any of Californias electors switch that means they're going from Hillary to Trump. Trump won Wisconsin, meaning his electors won in Wisconsin. They're his hand picked people. For the College to flip it would mean Trump supporters flipping their votes to Hillary. That's not going to happen. You also badly bungled the explanation of how states can call a constitutional convention, saying Congress has to approve, no they don't! Please read your constitution and stop misinforming your listeners.
A loyal listener.
#10
Malthus warned us that population growth would exceed food and other necessities of human life.
Benjamin Franklin also confirmed Malthus's statement.
Alexander von Humboldt stated that the human destruction of forests and well as varioius species, woiuld destroy the world for humans.
Robert Ardrey warned us of desertification (the same thing that von Humboldt warned us of).
How many other scientists and aruthors have stated the same thing!
We still want more money rather than the necessities of "life, liberty and happiness" as stated in the Declaration of Independence! The concept of life includes the necessities, a job, health, housing, clothing, satisfaction and value in living, security in jobs and government, and future for children as well as retirement. We are not achieving many of these things.
#11
Trump isn't even our legitimut President and Karl Rove is still flipping elections, in different STATES! Nothing has changed from the 2000 COUP! Look at everything Palast uncovered!
This should be the topic of conversations, all over this country!! And END Reaganomics!
#12
Thanks, Thom! I agree with you on almost everything, and am, also, an old ex-SDSer from Madison in the 60's. I was in Chicago as the Medical Director of the Days of Rage. Sort of took the revolutionary spirit right out of me after I examined some of the 31 kids who were shot by the armed CPD. As for the Trumpster from the golden dumpster, I'm gonna just sit back and enjoy his self-destruction. Reality is gonna kick him where it's gonna hurt! He'll resign just to get back in a reality TV set, where he belongs. As for the zombies who elected this transparent con-man, .... The real problem for our progeny and the biosphere is human overpopulation and the overly large carbon footprint of those of us in the West. Check out my FREE e-book, "Stress R Us". Just Google the title. Thanks, again, for being a rare ray of sunshine in a brain dead MSM environment. CNN=Trump TV, and deserves the lion's share of credit for normalizing that lying SOB. Let's just enjoy this episode of "When Reality TV Came to Washington", starring DJT and his cast of should be unknowns. :)) Gregg
#13
Trump is incapable of service.
#14
We the people will have to lead the fight to stop climate change. Check out my blog post on your open blog page: "How to stop crude oil pipelines".
It doesn't look like a fee and dividend bill could move forward in the next few years but there are already laws that wouldraise the cost of oil by removing hidden subsidies if federal agencies would just follow those laws and established guidances. Could you please mention these three petitions on your show?
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trump will choose the "best people"; The likes of posssibly ...Myron Ebell for EPA .."We have the finalists! tune in for further outrage!!" You can go through the Cabinet list.
Worse part is that trump is running a Reality TV Show; full of "must watch" for latest kerfuffle ...It's not about choices for "good Government."