On Thursday, 1st June 2017, Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement which now puts the U.S. into the rare company of countries like Syria and Semi-authoritarian Nicaragua, which is not the best of places to be.
Many tried their best to keep Donald Trump in the agreement, from Silicon Valley Giants to various European Leaders, however, nothing worked on the President of the U.S. who thought that Climate Change was not even real, before handling the Oval office.
However, this exit is more dangerous than we expect it to be, because, the United States is not just any other country in the Paris Climate Agreement, it’s one THE Countries in the agreement. The U.S. stands as the second biggest contributor of Greenhouse Emission which one of the most directly related problems with the entire concept of Climate Change.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/870412262900740096
What Is Paris Agreement?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said that if the world gets warmer by more than 2 degrees Celsius over the remainder of the century, there will be a rise in the number of “extreme climate events” on the planet. This includes higher sea levels, changes in weather patterns, food and water crises and other adverse effects. And, in an effort to combat this issue, a total of 195 countries came together and signed the Paris accord, whose main motive is to avert the global temperature from rising below 2 degrees Celsius (actually, the attempt is to restrict it to 1.5-degree Celsius).
While this is the gist of the deal, every developed nation has also pledged $100 billion as climate finance every year to developing countries till 2020, which will be reviewed at the end of 5 years. One also has to take in consideration that the U.S. will not immediately stop being a part of the accord, they’ll still be in the agreement till 2020.
Trump framed his decision to pull the US from the landmark Paris climate agreement as “a reassertion of America’s sovereignty”, adding he was “elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” He has said that he’ll stand by the people of the U.S. against what he called a “draconian” international deal. However, in the midst of all this, the U.S. President also said that the U.S. can try to re-enter the deal if more favorable terms are offered to them.
But it should also be noticed that no favorable deal can be offered to the U.S., as it’s one of the biggest contributors to the increase of Climate Change.
Statement from Barack Obama on the Paris Climate Agreement pic.twitter.com/SQc6kQV0Ah
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) June 1, 2017
The entire world, which initially saw this coming, was shocked by it and expressed their deep discomfort with the idea on Twitter. While the French President Emmanuel Macron gave an epic response and said, “Make Our Planet Great Again”, tech giants like Elon Musk decided to take a much more extreme step, to show his disagreement with the issue. Check out the reactions, here:
Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017
Disappointed with today’s decision. Google will keep working hard for a cleaner, more prosperous future for all.
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 1, 2017
Deeply disappointed by President's decision to withdraw from ParisAgreement. We will double our efforts to fight climate change. pic.twitter.com/cmCLf9CoVY
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) June 1, 2017
Today's decision is a setback for the environment and for the U.S.'s leadership position in the world. #ParisAgreement
— Lloyd Blankfein (@lloydblankfein) June 1, 2017
Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government.
— Jeff Immelt (@JeffImmelt) June 1, 2017
Decision to withdraw from the #ParisAgreeement was wrong for our planet. Apple is committed to fight climate change and we will never waver.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 2, 2017
Very much enjoying the German press at the moment. "Earth to Trump…" pic.twitter.com/sPqkUPYVlw
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 2, 2017
As a matter of principle, I've resigned from the President's Council over the #ParisAgreement withdrawal.
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) June 1, 2017
Now as for a conclusion, rather than picking up the right side, we would like to acknowledge the fact that since coming to power, the President Donald Trump’s administration has managed to carry forward the chaotic nature as well as the undisciplined character, making it hard for the US’ allies to follow Washington’s lead as it feels like following a car that is changing sides at high speeds because the passengers inside are fighting over the steering wheel.
If this continues, dependent countries would be parting ways with the United States of America to walk on a self-made course.
As for the Paris Climate agreement, if hotshots of the silicon valley are against the decision and Donald Trump’s administration says that compliance with the agreement will cost the US 2.7 million jobs by the year 2025, we wonder which jobs is he talking about!!
What is your viewpoint on Donald Trump’s decision? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.