With its Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, the U.S. Parts Company with the Civilized World
As we learned to our horror yesterday, the U.S. has again elected to make itself the pariah of the world, this time with its decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. But is there any reason to be surprised? Here are a few ideas to consider:
• At this point in Trump’s tenure, it’s really tough to be surprised at anything that he says or tweets; his words seem to get more erratic and senseless with each passing day. Let’s assume the many top-level minds in the mental health field are incorrect in their claims that the president suffers from numerous emotional disorders; he is still, at best, unpredictable and undisciplined in his thinking.
Some suggest that this is because he knows almost nothing about world economics and politics, that he doesn’t read, and that he refuses to invest the time to learn what he needs to know in order to become anything that remotely resembles a competent world leader. Thus, most of what he gleans from conversations is brand new to him, radically flip-flopping his worldview. NATO was “obsolete”–right up until the moment he learned what NATO actually is.
• Even with all this chaos in Trump’s thoughts and actions, there is a common theme to his actions: favor the super-rich at the expense of everyone else on the planet, American or otherwise. Keep in mind that rich people will be relatively unharmed by events that will most probably follow as a result of climate change. The devastation of the world food supply via desertification and the loss of farm land it causes, the massive immigrations occasioned by sea-level rise, and the increased scarcity of resources will end or permanently disfigure the lives of hundreds of millions or, more probably, billions of people–but there will always be plenty of goodies for the rich.
Even elevated levels of air and water pollution have less effect on the rich. How many wealthy people still live in Flint, Michigan?
• Our president has once again demonstrated that he hasn’t the slightest understanding of, respect for, or interest in science. Yet we need to remember: we knew that when we elected him.
• If there exists an underlying modus operandi to Trump’s actions, it’s his wanton destruction of everything the U.S. has stood for over the past few decades, without the slightest attempt to distinguish the good from the bad, the pragmatic from the unworkable. This means saying goodbye to many of our relationships with formerly important allies, legitimizing tyrannical butchers with praise and invitations to party at the White House, taking healthcare away from tens of millions of Americans, and, of course, backtracking on every step of progress we’ve made on the environment.
• It’s fairly clear that the pressure Trump’s receiving from the Justice Department can only further intensify based on the latest round of revelations on his campaign’s ties to Russia and visibility into the obvious conflicts of interest he has regarding his business enterprises in Russia and around the globe. If he has any prayer of surviving this investigation, it can only happen by consolidating this base. Yes, his approval rating is in the mid-30s, meaning that roughly two people oppose him for every one who supports him, but that’s still a substantial following.
What does climate change mitigation mean to the typical Trump supporter? Not a hell of a lot, obviously. They believe whatever their leader says regardless of how inane it happens to be, in this case, that global warming is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese. They have exactly zero interest in challenging him on this or any other piece of nonsense that comes out of his mouth.
His base is similarly incapable of seeing that its leader has no sincere interest in protecting the American people, or he’d show some level of concern for the 200,000 people who die every year (and the millions who contract diseases) from air pollution alone.
• One thing to be said about Trump is that he’s been true to his campaign promises. He swore to tear apart any regulations that could conceivably have a negative effect on business, and some claim that he merits praise for following through with that. That argument falls apart immediately, however, when one considers that essentially the entire remainder of the world’s nations are working hard to build their economies by investing in the technologies that surround sustainability/cleantech. Why? Perhaps they care about the health and safety of their citizens and the other people of earth (try to imagine that). Or perhaps they simply listen to the hundreds of serious and unbiased economists who are telling us precisely why and how cleantech is destined to define the commerce of the 21st Century. In either case, the U.S., with this move, voluntarily hands over its leadership in this arena to the Chinese.
Without a doubt, this is a very dark day for all U.S. citizens who happen to be in possession of a conscience and have the ability to think clearly. It would be hard to blame anyone who simply goes on a vacation from all this until what time, if any, that the good people of the U.S. come to their senses, realize that they’ve been duped, and help put this country back on the course that the Founding Fathers intended, i.e., towards a government that serves all the people.
Yet, we all have it within our power to make the personal decision to view this moment as a defining point for our lives. Anyone can smile and push along when things are going well; people of character identify themselves by not backing down when things go wrong.
Let’s put it this way: I’m not quitting, and neither are you.
Craig, first of all have you read the entire Paris Climate Accord document? I did! just this morning, It is the most vague approach to implementing systems and technologies that would have any significant impact. I currently develop sustainable projects and as a business man I wouldn’t have put my name on that contract, it has no substance nor does it have any financial checks and balances as to how the 1st hundred billion is going to be spent and the Good ol USA has to post a big portion of those funds. Why not step away from just spending money and maybe just maybe renegotiate the terms so they better reflect what the USA and states like CA and NV have already done regarding solving our waste stream problems and implement a plan that has real achievable, measurable milestones.
Richard,
Well said ! I don’t think the majority of those who so ardently support the Accord, have actually read the document.
You beat me too it!
Hello Richard Gunkel. What part of the world do you adhere to. We are solutions provider’s on the east coast looking to expand. We work with numerous renewable energy solutions. Would this be something we could discuss?
To your “comments” on the accord and it’s deficiencies, ALL new systems need to “get the bugs out”. So whether we stayed with the Paris accord or Not, we need to make a “commitment” to climate change. We cannot “sit back” and wait for Catastrophic events to occur. And, at the worst, if the scientissue are wrong we might have spent money on R&D, and things that went”poof” in the night. Progress HAS NEVER been “correct” or “perfect”, the 1st t8me b around. “Negotiating” when a timetable might be imperative is a VERY DANGEROUS GAMBLE.We have EVERYTHING to WIN, and the “downside” REALLY isn’t a “downside”. A cleaner MORE efficient society, as a byproduct of climate change. So this Would be a “SPUR” in the right direction.
To me, this was a pure play to his base. He said he’d do it, and he did. Profiling his base, they tend towards liking any actions that resemble “stick it to the man”. It really has zero to do with the subject matter and everything to do with bravado, which for some incredibly archaic reason, is considered a positive attribute in american culture. I cannot begin to fathom why caveman behavior is looked upon so positively, and would certainly root for the modern equivalent of a saber tooth tiger in the immediate vicinity of these throwbacks.
That said, the silver lining is that this is symbolic. The 99% of the USA’s effort to move to renewables will continue unabated. Some even argue that his provocation increases the intensity of the response. As best as I can tell from the actual accord details, the only significant change will be that the USA does not contribute towards the third world participation in the accord. The OECD countries agreed to provide support based on the notion they created this mess. That monetary contribution will now not occur. All the other topics are independent subjects.
Mr Shields,
I somewhat disagree with your comment that : “that rich people will be relatively unharmed by events ”, if you read Jared Diamond “Collapse” where he found that tat the Collapse of the Norse settlement in Greenland, yes the rich were favoured by being the last to die, the advantages of the riches are not so great.
Since the agreement is a non-binding one, no real contractual obligations are involved. This aspect is necessary to enable poor countries to do what they can without fear of penalties or opprobrium. Thus, it should not have been a fearsome document for the richest and most powerful nation on earth, or its fearless leader.
Unfortunately, we have a fearful, child-like man-boy at the helm, seemingly incapable of depth or thoughtful consideration of issues. I’m happy to see states, cities and citizen groups willing to take on the burden of saving the planet.
In the meantime, economics may save the day in a truly capitalistic way. Coal companies are dying, solar and wind are growing at record rates, and companies that use a great deal of energy are investing in clean alternatives to fossil-fuel generation.
Have you thought about the math behind the energy required to make it possible for solar and wind to fully transition the world, like 99% from FFs? I believe that we need global powerlines to pull it off, and even then, the energy budget is constrained.
However, it’s possible, if only we could trade clean energy like we trade everything else. There is absolutely no way America could power itself from solar and wind alone without such global integration.
It requires about 1/7th to 1/10th the energy to make PV that it will generate over its 25 or so year lifetime. In the winter, much more panels have to be built to generate the extra electricity needed to be put into storage… Which requires even more energy inputs. Consider also that all these devises will eventually fail and will require energy for their recycle and replacement. Now, a 10 to one positive energy return it’s eaten up by all the extra needed to make up for it’s poor capacity factor!
This is why we can’t just accept an Accord that limits our energy consumption (and which would eventually charge us many billions of dollars).
We, America, needs one that mandates that we research what it takes to make solar do the job on energy (and monetary) budget!
Or better yet, make fusion happen. Aneutronic fusion (though harder to achieve) will be cheaper because no steam generators required!
Craig,
How is all this ranting and venting toward the President helpful?
How does inventing an imaginary scenario, devoid of any facts but based purely on speculation and animus, help.
The evidence that President Trump took considerable time investigating and examining every aspect of this decision is overwhelming. Even opponents like Germany’s Angela Merkel admitted Trump listened intently for hours as the European’s argued their case.
For months White house and Cabinet factions have produced reams of material both for and against. There’s no evidence the President took the decision lightly.
In the end, the President stated his position very clearly. He announced his belief the terms of the Paris Accord were not fair or in accord with the interests of the US people.
Whether he’s right or wrong, in the end the decision is his. He, and he alone, is responsible to American people.
He offered compromise, but when that was rejected, he withdrew.
Evidently you haven’t quite grasped what century or nation in which you live. The US has been in serious economic decline for decades. With a national debt of $ 22 trillion, and several emerging more dynamic economies snapping at it’s heels, severely eroded government tax revenues, has been and industrial dominance merely a memory, the nation can’t afford the luxury of expensive, grand symbolic gestures.
The idea of “leadership” by an newly altruistic Peoples Republic of China, is sheer fantasy !
The idea by some Americans that a US President should prefer the interests other nations, over the best interests of the US, was always unsustainable. President Trump is simply stating what’s been obvious to everyone for decades, (except a certain type of American) the US must start putting it’s own interest first if it’s to survive and prosper.
You talk of America’s obligation to third world nations, been to Detroit recently ? I dare say $3 billion annually might help US citizens living in third world conditions better than paying even more Eurocrat bureaucracy.
So let’s forget all the politics and concentrate on what we can accomplice.
Trump said he did it to save jobs. This it will not do. It will do the opposite. More than 8.1 million people were working in renewable energy worldwide during 2016, a 6% increase over a year before, compared with a decline of 18% for the oil and gas sector. In China, the numbers were 3.5 million people in renewables, compared with 2.6 million for oil and gas. Bloomberg said that 350,000 people were laid off in the oil and gas sector in the US between 2014 and 2016.2 Renewables create the most jobs and they create local jobs. Not only are these real immediate jobs, but Trump could theoretically eliminate USA jobs in the future by limiting the country’s participation in the development of expertise, investment leadership, supply chain growth and so on, in a clean tech sector that will be worth $5 trillion within a couple of short decades. One example: there are more than 2,754 solar companies in California, employing 75,598 people. In 2010, there were a couple hundred installations, in 2012 more than a thousand. In 2014, there were about 3500, and in 2016 more than 5000. In other words, 20% annual growth. And it’s expected to grow twice as fast, or by 200% over the next five years. All states and countries are actively competing for this work. It’s just business and ordinary technological change.
Hi Bruce,
Job creation is always contentious, and argued with great passion by participant and exponents from all industries.
Naturally, the solar industry will lobby to preserve the best trading conditions, while commentators such as James Taylor will argue against the claims made by the solar industry.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2017/05/25/renewable-jobs-claims-based-on-deception-false-comparisons/2/#2747dbd4709f
What’s immediately evident to anyone who actually reads and analyses the Paris Accord, is the potential for a detrimental impact on the US economy with no real benefit to the environment.
But it’s not an either/or situation, research in renewable energy technology will continue unabated. The only effect on the commercial expansion of renewable energy will come from a reduction in government subsidies and guarantees.
Since both Wind and Solar are now well established technologies, cutting back on taxpayer support may weed out inefficient companies, but shouldn’t harm efficient companies. In fact, a reduction in government support should be beneficial since it will eliminate uneconomic companies leaving the market to the best players.
Creating 25,000 jobs in California requiring massive taxpayer funding, doesn’t help folk in Tennessee or West Virginia.
Currently, the US economy is only surviving due to a sudden boom in oil and gas production. These industries create the economic conditions that make possible the introduction of newer transitional technologies.
A nation 23 trillion dollars in debt, just can’t afford anymore altruistic, expensive, ‘symbolic’ gestures.
Our president will stop at nothing to honor the business, and supposedly, the tax payers.
Just why does all the environmentalists think that the Accord is a good deal for America???
The better deal is spending the money on REAL solutions… Like global powerlines for the efficient integration and distribution of solar energy and, even better yet, the bet on nuclear fusion.
I’m not for Trump’s cutting of (I believe ALL) science research and such education but, at least he did us a favor by not entrapping the United States into yet another unfair “trade deal”.
Global Warming WILL happen regardless of silly globalist political actions… until America elects that which made it great in the first place… Science.
A token effect is worth a token outcome.
I should have said “America and the rest of the world” to invest in…
SCIENCE?
!
To the argument that Our illustrious president made a decision FOR the American people is a FARCE of the umpteenth proposition. In ALL of his “dealings”, whether through business or individuals it was to get the Upper hand, a la “art of the deal”.This was purely a “show” for his base. So, the US made a commitment to “contribute” 3 billion dollars. The Iraq war STILL cost this country 10 billion a month. AND,
This WAS Only a “commitment”, that Could be Changed.
Yes, Donald Trump fulfilled his “commitment
to his base. But the Irony, as Arlene suggested is We’ll not only come back from this BUT Now the Majors and
Viably Committed individuals WILL REALLY “step to the table”. What WILL Occur is A positive
WILL come from a negative.
So renewables WILL continue to “march” forward AND BURY THE COAL INDUSTRY.AND they know it.
And as fire of energy
“Suggested” New and innovative technologies WILL COME to the forefront. I’m actually working with a group Now that has a “New”and innovative technology that can be a “game-changer”. We need to “concentrate” more on DER systems the state of NY has put at “replacing”
Transmission lines at 30 billion. That is ONLY an estimate. So transmission lines are NOT the most efficient NOR the “long term” solution to the world’s energy needs.
The R&D of science and technology are SOOO very important to human survival AND progression. This is Truly the Great inadequacy of Our illustrious president. He lacks the foresight, knowledge, and “true”
Conception what science and technology mean to the human race. Will WE Survive this “Misstep”,
UNDOUBTEDLY.Regardless,
He should confer with people, even like yourselves that have an understanding AND Can “educate” the uneducated.
Steve Bannon is NOT AN EXPERT, by ANY means.
HAS ANYONE noticed that the Paris agreement, which the US REALLY will not be out of till 2019 is slated that ONE day after the next presidential election is when the US ACTUALLY gets out. So, he CAN state that he did this for his BASE
Trump dumped the Paris Climate Accord because it was stupid. India does not have to comply until they receive $2.3 trillion in grants. China can build all the coal fired generators they want until 2030.
For your readers (which I have been one for a few years) they need to become a little more familiar with the Vostok Ice core studies. Seven or eight ice ages/heat waves before man was around to pollute the planet. It would be interesting if as much money had been spent to “prove” global warming (again something that happened 7 or 8 times before man even hit the earth) was spent to “prove” just the opposite. Remember 700 years ago almost 100% of the people thought the world was flat. We have come along way baby. another case in point is Stalin and the Lysenko Tragedy of Fake Science. (Stalin wanted to prove communism could provide more food than conventional food production processes in Russia…30,000,000 people died.)
One thousand years ago where there is Ice now Iceland there was farm land. Her is what scientist say:
https://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus.htm
Your rant about Trumps mental situation reminded me of the likes of Bill Mahar, Stephen Colbert and Kathy Griffin. Or some of the other Hollywood PhD’s on ‘Global Warming.” You know, the ones running around in their private jets going from environmental rally to environmental rally. Your talking points are tired. Are there any original thoughts any more or do people like to be fed their talking points, regardless of what is being pushed that week, by some idiot in a news room that knows less about the planet than even Trump?
As for NATO Trumps is as dumb as a fox…he just wants the countries being protected to pay their fair share and what they agreed to do when NATO was started.
Why are world “leaders” picking on the country that has done more to clean the earth up than any other country by almost any metric? The planet will not stop rotating because of Trump. It has survived a lot of idiots. The Environmental Solutions must be borne by others not just the US.
No, I am not a right-wing kook, I just wish people would do some reading and not just listen to people with an agenda. Follow the money!
People are not “drinking” the Kool-Aid they’re “freebasing” it!
Bill, (may I call you Bill ?),
Thank you for your interesting post.
it would be nice is advocates actually bother to carefully read the the documents they so enthusiastically endorse.
I’m astonished so many commenters are irate and outraged with the Presidents decision, yet haven’t bothered to read the Accord itself.
Excellent Postings from both sides have enjoyed reading and contemplating them .
Arlene thank you you words below Sums it up for me – well said.
She said :
o me, this was a pure play to his base. He said he’d do it, and he did. Profiling his base, they tend towards liking any actions that resemble “stick it to the man”. It really has zero to do with the subject matter and everything to do with bravado, which for some incredibly archaic reason, is considered a positive attribute in american culture. I cannot begin to fathom why caveman behavior is looked upon so positively,
Yes there is a certain Cave Man Ethos in the American culture and it seems to have risen up in its frustrations and with its sense of bewilderment in a World that is changing out of their control or what they once thought was their Divine Birth right … so in fear they have turned to false prophets , Moronic attempts at Policy and False Boogeymen…
So yes the Trumpet , he played to that base and the KOCH Bro. and the Mercers, Devoss’s and the other deep pocketed Carbon Stewards and Investing class of the US in rejecting yet another of the attempts at environmental policy from the Obama years.
Like others have said Paris in its details was not that binding and more of a attempt at setting goals. I never took the time to read
the whole thing as I saw it as more grand Standing by the elected Elites to make yet another Show and Tell Opportunity to act like they are doing something. Perhaps I suffer from Proclamation fatigue as well. ??
I definitely think the World must Act collectively and Aggressively to address GHG and GW for sure but finding a consensus in the disparate political climate is a real challenge.
There was good in it for sure and I for one dont have a problem sending some of my tax dollars to help small poor countries improve their energy situation in a manner that improves the environment as well.
The US will waste Billions shooting off Roman Candles rockets etc., at elusive and ragged thugs posing as military threats! So for us to take some of that money and share it with the poorer countries of the world to do good and get things done , is a much better application of our resources. Instead of killing and maiming innocents we could be More productive. We just might get some collective respect and support from other nations and they would step up and in and We ROW the Boat together.
That is the part CONCEPT of PARIS I liked an attempt to row the boat together in respect to emissions etc.
As others have said the ships are sailing renewable energy deployment in the US is 25 years ahead of the original EIA Energy resource forecast made around 15 years ago. In the US , We have deployed over 42 GW or 42,000 meg awatts of Solar Electric, closing in on 80 or 81 GW of Clean wind with rising capacity factors and declining LCOE s and good LACE values as well. We have closed around 300 coal plants with more joining the funeral procession weekly – last week another 3,500 megs got their death notices .
Yes there may be some limitations in the current format for solar systems but after only 9 years of real market development – California as a State Grid is OVER GENERATING up to 8,000 megawatts daily NOW. Over generating – and they only have just begun , using existing Transmission North to Oregon and East to Nevada and East to AZ they can sell surplus power to other Grids. This will be a short term fix as they need to find cost effective storage so they cause the saved energy for the night time Duck Curve Load. Perhaps more pumped hydro storage in the Mtns north of Sacramento that is the next Step in the ladder to energy progress . so naysayers out there take note at this progress.
So the market place will keep moving in right direction it is beyond the Trumpets control -The US does not need Paris to get these things done.
The Univ of Wyoming Energy Research and Economic Policy folks just released a study of the Cold hard facts of life – a 5 % increase in coal usage in the US will bring Wyoming maybe 600 coal jobs back. Back means the net gain is less than 600 jobs!
So the net gain is marginal and here is the Rub carbon heads, trumperians and the lot; The increase in a few coal jobs in Wyoming causes loss of jobs within trumpers West Virginia & Appalachia voter base. This is due to macroeconomics of the coal market pricing etc., at work- Real facts way beyond the intellectual quotient levels of the typical trumpster rooter out there who are victims and in Self Inflicted Bondage to their alternative diet of lies, but the Reality they will be collateral damage in the Dynamic Cauldron of Change with or with out Paris. so they LOSE also.
Marco your assessment of our declining economic status has rings of truth to it but I would like specifics as to these great job loss numbers that trump and crew claimed ? PARIS WOULD CAUSE !
What is the Truth in this aspect of Paris as I see growth in high tech and green energy jobs and exporting of technology by the US to other markets by staying in Paris Agreement. So what are the real facts not the carbon head talking points! ?
Renewable energy and Energy Efficiency and Related Engineering have close to 3 million folks working now and growing.
Wind and Energy controls, batteries and Software is reviving domestic manufacturing and allied supply chains. All this is good for America all Americans . , many a Red Stater whose congressman may be a trump stool pigeon but has many of their constituents working thanks to Obama insightful energy policy. The ironies of energy politics are Indeed interesting. So the loud mouths will rant and rave but their people are working in it. their ranchers and farmers love Wind the lease revenue. is great. so RE spreads money around too unlike carbon plants that spread mostly pollution around !
Like others said, Paris its limitations aside may have been a good vehicle for a good Consensus – the US needs to be part of the global community and leave this go it alone ideology at the back door. If we are engaged we can reinvigorate our real economy and not the current bits and bytes bubble economy. Positive Engagement is good for business and the environment. .
So Paris detractors be specific tell us its weakness and flaws .
Regardless the Sky is not Falling we will go on and grow better and do better – time to Stand Tall and Lean forward and deliver Value More value!
Hi Silent,
Er, would you really agree to a contract you haven’t bothered to read ? Would you just sign some document because someone told you it was a good idea ?
Read the document in full, and study the context. You’ll discover when all the grand prose and elegant phrasing is set aside, the Accord is largely “symbolic” and designed as a political showcase by cynical nations at the expense of the USA.
As for third world nations, well charity begins at home. Why do you think people living in the third world are more deserving of US help than citizens of the US living in even worse conditions ?
i note the US dept of States, records employment in the US no government jobs has increased by nearly 1 million, since the election.
Oh, and this week,the first oil began flowing through the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline. The protests ended not with a bang, but a whimper ! Reading back through your excited expectation of bloody revolution, I wonder how you feel about the protest just fizzling out, leaving only a vast pile of excrement, garbage, mistreated animals, sacred sites destroyed by protestors and protestor created pollution ?.
Or, Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council Chairman, Dave Archambault II, praising Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier for his help in
saving rare Bison, and volunteering himself and his department to help clear the rubbish and rescue abandoned, mistreated animals.
Sheriff Kirchmeir and his family accepted several traumatized Native American children into their home and provided sanctuary from radical elements.
Bravo, Craig.
Cameron,
Well said by a loyal supporter and true believer !
I take it you, like Craig, haven’t bothered to actually read the Accord ?
It’s quite nostalgic and reminds me of those old fashioned ” Letters to Editor” , who signed themselves with non de plume like “Indignant of East Bromliegh”. These folk were persistently outraged by books they hadn’t read, BBC programs they hadn’t seen, and events they hadn’t witnessed.
When challenged these folk always replied with pride, “I wouldn’t waste my time reading/seeing/ or finding out about such filth/ rubbish/ lies etc..
Takes me back,…
Mate Marco – The US can afford to help out other countries we burn money taking care of so called defense of far too many despotic regimes like Saudi Arabia and surrounding sand Castles….
Using resources to do good is not a bad idea.
As for bad conditions in the US I will agree but its Voodoo economic policies by people like the trumpster and his crowd that have made any people poorer the past 35 years or so. that is documented and not worthy of discussion cause its a Fact.
Look at his Trumpet bs budget on napkins and his various backwards attempts at changing tax policy , if much of hwat they have claimed there will be much more Poor people including most of his so called base.
Marco I admitted that I never read the whole thing, I saw the general trend of it. I also said that it was not binding and I also said 2 or 3 times that we dont need Paris to advance Renewable energy and other efficiency measures and new technologies , more technologies are coming . I see that as a opportunity for export for business.
So that is one reason to belong. Also to try to lead in something other than bombing , killing , maiming undermining and disrupting other societies and then wondering why their Youth turn to Radical ideas and do Radical destructive things ! so being in Paris accord as long as the requirements did not sink our ship is not so bad. I say Try to Row the boats together with the World as long as it is not a budget buster etc. Our world could use more doses of Unity .
But as I said others said , we go on without paris not a deal breaker.
As for the Pipeline , hey big money and oil won. The natives Americans have been quiet , You seem to keep tabs on that area. I have not been there in 8 years or so. there have been two different marches in the East coast with some supporters , some Army veterans and Native Americans and others. but not as huge as they once planned. a few members of their community have been on radio but much more Low key in their speech.
Maybe the Oil co is paying the tribes more royalty money ?
Maybe the natives are accepting things and the bad blood will cool off. We shall see.
India and China will continue expanding RE and both reducing coal expansion by some big numbers . So they are proceeding.
Paris or no Paris – America will keep adapting as the market place wants change. Trump is a anomaly a temporary anomaly that is incapable of really Stopping our progress.
he may make it harder or slow it some or under mine it but when the smoke clears Re will be standing tall as will many good technologies. Marco The Renewable and Energy Efficiency sector has had over 3,000,000 jobs before the trumpet showed up. And his coal base guys keep getting laid off so he is under achieving with them an d the greater American public. he is owned by the KOCH s and Mercers etc. and the rest of his deplore able base.
I agreed with some of your points on NATO – where the trumpet is speaking Truth as some of those Europeans need to stand up and pay their way. I have said that for over 25 years. Many Americans feel that way so that is one of the few places where el trumpet gets a couple of lets say bronze Stars ? he gets some points there. but he is slipping in most areas. We shall see Onwards with out Paris we can do it. We are not jelly fish.
Hi Silent,
Some reading on “renewable energy employment ; https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2017/05/25/renewable-jobs-claims-based-on-deception-false-comparisons/2/#7bd85b0e709f
The US can’t afford to wage endless wars without any political exit strategies. In the case of allies like Saudi Arabia where the US has highly profitable trading conditions, nations of essential strategic importance, the US military is justifies.
The US is 23 trillion in debt ! It can’t afford to continue looking after the poor in other countries, while ignoring the plight of fellow Americans.
Since the Trump election, the US has gained nearly 1,000,000 new jobs, mostly due to increases in domestic manufacture and mining.
It may interest you to know the Koch Bros, and almost all major corporations didn’t support Trump, or help him get elected.
Unlike the Democrat Candidate, Trump had no billionaires lining up with contributions to his campaign. He owes nothing, to anyone, not even the GOP party machine.
Hi Craig,
Congratulations on a well written article. I only have one comment:
“Our president has once again demonstrated that he hasn’t the slightest understanding of, respect for, or interest in science.”
Except when he picks up his smart phone to send out a tweet!
🙂 Good one.