World pledges to save 'Mother Earth' despite Trump's snub to climate pact

rooster59 · June 2, 2017

World pledges to save 'Mother Earth' despite Trump's snub to climate pact

By Thomas Escritt and Philip Blenkinsop

People hold banners as they protest next to the Brandenburg Gate, beside the U.S. embassy, against the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate change deal, in Berlin, Germany, June 2, 2017. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - China and Europe pledged on Friday to unite to save what German Chancellor Angela Merkel called "our Mother Earth", standing firmly against President Donald Trump's decision to take the United States out of the Paris climate change pact.

Trump's move was "a big mistake", said Donald Tusk, one of the European Union's top officials.

Other countries, including India, signalled their commitment to the accord. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that while the United States should have remained in the 2015 deal, he would not judge Trump.

Trump announced the withdrawal on Thursday, tapping into his "America First" campaign theme. He said participating in the pact would undermine the U.S. economy, wipe out jobs, weaken national sovereignty and put his country at a permanent disadvantage.

Members of his administration, including Vice President Mike Pence and Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, said on Friday that the Paris deal put an extraordinary burden on the United States.

"It was a transfer of wealth from the most powerful economy in the world to other countries around the planet", Pence said on television.

There was a mix of dismay and anger across the world.

France said it would work with U.S. states and cities to keep up the fight against climate change. The governors of New York, California and Washington State have announced creation of a "climate alliance" committed to the Paris goals.

Germany's powerful car industry said Europe would need to reassess its environmental standards to remain competitive after the "regrettable" U.S. decision.

The World Meteorological Organization estimated that U.S. withdrawal from the emissions-cutting accord could add 0.3 degrees Celsius to global temperatures by the end of the century in a worst-case scenario.

Germany's Merkel, a pastor's daughter who is usually intensely private about her faith, said the accord was needed "to preserve our Creation".

"To everyone for whom the future of our planet is important, I say let's continue going down this path so we're successful for our Mother Earth", she said to applause from lawmakers.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron turned Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan on its head, saying in a rare English-language statement that it was time to "make the planet great again".

CHINA AND EUROPE TOGETHER

At a long-planned meeting on Friday between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and European Union officials in Brussels, the leaders pledged full implementation of the Paris deal. They committed to cutting fossil fuels use, developing more green technology and raising funds to help poorer countries reduce emissions.

China, the world's largest polluter, has emerged as Europe's unlikely partner in this and other areas as Trump has isolated the United States on many issues.

Tusk said Europe was "stepping up our cooperation on climate change with China... We are convinced that yesterday's decision by the United States to leave the Paris Agreement is a big mistake."

Earlier, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "There is no reverse gear to energy transition. There is no backsliding on the Paris Agreement".

WARM WORDS

The vast majority of scientists believe global warming is mainly the result of human activities including power generation, transport, agriculture and industry.

A small group of sceptics, some of them in the White House, believe the Paris pact threatened business.

Trump once called climate change a hoax. Pruitt declined to tell reporters at the White House whether Trump now believes it is real and threatens the country. Pruitt's own view, he said, is that human activity contributes to climate change, but measuring how much is "very challenging".

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp <XOM.N>, had supported staying in the pact. He said the United States will continue efforts to reduce its emissions.

"It was a policy decision and I think it's important that everyone recognise the United States has a terrific record on reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions," Tillerson told reporters.

A number of figures from U.S. industry expressed their dismay at Trump's move.

Jeff Immelt, chief executive officer of U.S. conglomerate General Electric <GE.N>, tweeted: "Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government."

Tesla Inc <TSLA.O> CEO Elon Musk, and Walt Disney <DIS.N> CEO Robert Iger said they would leave White House advisory councils after Trump's move.

German industry associations warned that Trump's decision would harm the global economy and lead to market distortions.

Germany's DIHK Chambers of Commerce and VDMA engineering industry group said U.S. companies could gain short-term advantages by Trump's decision.

"Climate protection can be pushed forward in an effective and competition-friendly way only by all states," said DIHK President Eric Schweitzer.

Trump's top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, said on television the withdrawal would help keep U.S. energy markets competitive, allowing for a potential for coal. But coal industry officials have said the sector hopes only to slow the economic bleeding that has come with a glut of cheaper and natural gas.

On Thursday, the Sierra Club, an environmental group, was scathing about Trump's endorsement of what he regards as clean coal. It tweeted: "Clean coal, you can find that next to the unicorns and leprechauns."

darksidedog · June 3, 2017

It seems the whole world is united in condemnation of America pulling out of the agreement.The America First idea seems destined to see America becoming less and less significant in the world order, as other countries are already moving closer together in ways that would have been unlikely not long ago.

Chris Lawrence · June 3, 2017

Well you would condemn the US, after Trump outed 27 nations not paying their UN dues.

What is more important at the present time; protecting people against the savages of war and war lords or the climate we may have in 200 years. Both important, but its better to sweep the UN non-payers under the mat then to focus on if they had paid the bills or not.

This is working as a smoke screen to serious problems facing the world now.

Trump is not one I would follow, but these two issues are important and I believe he has placed them in order. China and India are reported not pulling their weight with climate change. Now China is coming out of this as the white knight? What have they done in the last 7 days to change their focus?

I just think its more important to take care of kids that are in the sights of missiles and bullets, which is part of the UN process then to start blaming one country for asking 'and what are you doing for climate change'.

DoctorG · June 3, 2017

Before jumping onto the hysterical bandwagon you need to look at what "promises" (non-binding) countries have made. Two of the bigger polluters, China and India, will actually INCREASE their pollution under this accord. China gets till 2030 to start real reductions and India have promised to try to reduce if it is given billions in foreign aid.

It is all smoke and mirrors.

YetAnother · June 3, 2017

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

World pledges

worlds dont pledge or do anything; people do; whether they follow thru is another matter

ilostmypassword · June 3, 2017

5 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Before jumping onto the hysterical bandwagon you need to look at what "promises" (non-binding) countries have made. Two of the bigger polluters, China and India, will actually INCREASE their pollution under this accord. China gets till 2030 to start real reductions and India have promised to try to reduce if it is given billions in foreign aid.

It is all smoke and mirrors.

Read some real news for a change

India, Once a Coal Goliath, Is Fast Turning Green

Just a few years ago, the world watched nervously as India went on a building spree of coal-fired power plants, more than doubling its capacity and claiming that more were needed. Coal output, officials said, would almost triple, to 1.5 billion tons, by 2020.

Experts now say that India not only has no need of any new coal-fired plants for at least a decade, given that existing plants are running below 60 percent of capacity, but that after that it could rely on renewable sources for all its additional power needs.

Rather than building coal-fired plants, it is now canceling many in the early planning stages.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/world/asia/india-coal-green-energy-climate.html

boomerangutang · June 3, 2017

25 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Before jumping onto the hysterical bandwagon you need to look at what "promises" (non-binding) countries have made. Two of the bigger polluters, China and India, will actually INCREASE their pollution under this accord. China gets till 2030 to start real reductions and India have promised to try to reduce if it is given billions in foreign aid. It is all smoke and mirrors.

Perhaps those are valid points. Yet Trump is abysmal at communicating. If he has some good reasons for trashing the accord, why didn't he articulate them - or at least have his speech writers write something to that effect?

Partly because that didn't happen (wasn't even attempted) The US has slipped down several notches in its influence in the world (in general), and its once-respectable position at being at the vanguard of alternative/clean energy is tarnished.

I predict Trump and the ignorami he surrounds himself with, will attempt to do something good for environmental policy in upcoming weeks, as compensation for yesterday's ignorant decision. Yet, the milk has already been spilled. Similar to the rude/sudden Comey firing, Humpty Trumpty can't put the broken egg together again, no matter how he tries.

Edited June 3, 2017 by boomerangutang

SOUTHERNSTAR · June 3, 2017

I like the wording. The withdrawl of the US can increase the temp with 0,3 degrees in 83 years time in the worst case scenario. The whole accord only aim at lowering it by 0,5 degrees. The cost of lowering the temp by this meager number will enrich the 1% by trillions.

boomerangutang · June 3, 2017

38 minutes ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

I like the wording. The withdrawl of the US can increase the temp with 0,3 degrees in 83 years time in the worst case scenario. The whole accord only aim at lowering it by 0,5 degrees. The cost of lowering the temp by this meager number will enrich the 1% by trillions.

Neither you nor anyone else knows 'worst case scenario' for the next 83 years.

Thus far, in past decades, 'hottest ever' stats have consistently been higher than scientists predicted. Same for glacier receding numbers. Over and over, the 'worst case scenario' predictions wind up being less dire than the actual numbers borne out by the passage of time.

Same for incidence largest tropical storms. Since the mid-20th century (since detailed records have been recorded) tropical storms have gotten increasingly powerful. In the past 15 years, records have been broken year by year - similar to how records for highest-ever temp readings get exceeded nearly every successive year.

Another of the many reasons Trump's Paris Accord decision is asinine: It benefits two countries in particular: Both are heavily fossil-fuel dependent on oil revenue:

#1 Russia. #2. Saudi Arabia

I can understand why he always wants to reward Russia, but S.Arabia? Oh yea, the Saudi King gave Trump a gold necklace. Give Trump gaudy gold trinkets, and he'll love you - at least for the next 15 minutes or so.

As for the Russkies: They gave him a golden shower, so Trump will love them also, particularly if it's on video tape.

Edited June 3, 2017 by boomerangutang

jackh · June 3, 2017

Jealousy is an expected reaction from other countries in the world. Really, I promise you, the USA does not care. But in eight more years of Trump, you all will be begging to have the lifestyle we will enjoy soon. Sorry, you are all taking a back seat on the bus, and I am sure it hurts feeling. But, no pain, no gain as they say.

All this global, borderess, greenhouse BS going on for years is a fantasy I am so relieved will be coming to an end. I for one do not care to be subjected the NWO crap. Still a lot of work to be done, but rest assured Trump is building a mighty army for this very purpose.

If you want to believe in this global warming conspiracy, it's your funeral. Never happen, never will . "Mother Earth" is quite capable of taking care of herself, as she has done for millions of years. Stupid little human ants will never change, effect, or control anything about it. Go ahead and spend billions of $$$, only to go into the bank accounts of Merkel, Soros, Clinton, Obama, etc. That is all it is.......a pyramid scheme. Fall for it at your own peril. I'm not buying any of it.

Should I mention I am enjoying quite a bout of flatulence as I write this and I don't have a bit of quilt!

Edited June 3, 2017 by jackh

metisdead · June 3, 2017

A post containing off topic generalizations has been removed.

phantomfiddler · June 3, 2017

Pathetic anti-Trump propaganda ! What depths will these lefty ar*eholes leave unplumbed ?

jackh · June 3, 2017

1 hour ago, boomerangutang said:

It harkens to the OJ trial finding - which let OJ walk free, despite everyone, including his multi-millionaire phlanx of attorneys, knowing he was guilty as hell.

Here's why:

Prior to the OJ fiasco, Americans could gently say to foreigners, "yes, but at least the US has a fair criminal justice system." After the OJ trial, foreigners could shoot back, "BS. The US criminal system is fatally flawed. They let OJ off for a double murder when there were truckloads of incriminating evidence."

The similarity with Trump's recent trashing of the climate accord should be obvious. Prior, the US was a fellow team member endeavoring to make the world a better place. After Trump's/Bannons'/Kushner's dumbass decision, whenever an American purports to be doing something good for the environment or alternative energy, a foreigner can shoot back, "BS. Your president pulled out of the Paris Accord. You guys are treaty-busting a-holes married to coal burning."

You must be French.

jackh · June 3, 2017

1 hour ago, boomerangutang said:

Perhaps those are valid points. Yet Trump is abysmal at communicating. If he has some good reasons for trashing the accord, why didn't he articulate them - or at least have his speech writers write something to that effect?

Partly because that didn't happen (wasn't even attempted) The US has slipped down several notches in its influence in the world (in general), and its once-respectable position at being at the vanguard of alternative/clean energy is tarnished.

I predict Trump and the ignorami he surrounds himself with, will attempt to do something good for environmental policy in upcoming weeks, as compensation for yesterday's ignorant decision. Yet, the milk has already been spilled. Similar to the rude/sudden Comey firing, Humpty Trumpty can't put the broken egg together again, no matter how he tries.

Trump is simply draining the swamp. If part of that swamp runs over your country, so be it. You heard the American saying..."F^$K you and the horse you rode in on"? It would well apply here to you Europeans.

Beats56 · June 3, 2017

All these other blood sucking countries expect the US.to pay for everything while they contribute nothing. The free ride is over. 0.3 temp increase in 83 years...like big f... deal. Maybe they can chip in to AL Gores carbon tax as well.

selftaopath · June 3, 2017

5 hours ago, darksidedog said:

It seems the whole world is united in condemnation of America pulling out of the agreement.The America First idea seems destined to see America becoming less and less significant in the world order, as other countries are already moving closer together in ways that would have been unlikely not long ago.

Exactly how 45's boss wanted/demanded.

I wonder if 45 and his band of thieves plan on moving to Russia - that is after their jail terms end?

champers · June 3, 2017

I fear that US withdrawal from this accord will give other nations an opportunity to fall short of their obligations and use the US as a convenient scapegoat. The world still turns and can still function without the US providing input or leadership. The EU has likened itself to the US often enough, so now it has a clear opportunity to demonstrate the fact.

boomerangutang · June 3, 2017

If Trump fans ran an emergency ward at a hospital, here's how they would do business.

A guy comes in who slipped on ice and banged his head. Trump's Hospital staff would tell him: "You dumb idiot. What were you doing walking on ice? You should have stayed home, you loser. And if you're going to walk on ice, wear crampons or golf shoes."

Then they would kick him out without treatment, and then high-five each other for saving money on bandages. How would Trump Hospital staff get paid for their non-services? Simple: all the doctors and nurses would get their lavish lifestyles paid for (including 5-star hotels, best restaurants for every meal, helicopter rides anywhere) .......by taxpayer money. Just like Trump and all his camp followers get everything 5-star and paid for by US taxpayers. No matter that they themselves don't pay taxes. In their view: paying taxes is stupid. It's for pussies who don't have million dollar tax lawyers to hide everything away.

boomerangutang · June 3, 2017

2 hours ago, jackh said:

Trump is simply draining the swamp. If part of that swamp runs over your country, so be it. You heard the American saying..."F^$K you and the horse you rode in on"? It would well apply here to you Europeans.

Trump is the swamp.

And who broached the topic of having sex with horses? Not I. Is that where your mind is at?

halloween · June 3, 2017

4 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

Read some real news for a change

India, Once a Coal Goliath, Is Fast Turning Green

Just a few years ago, the world watched nervously as India went on a building spree of coal-fired power plants, more than doubling its capacity and claiming that more were needed. Coal output, officials said, would almost triple, to 1.5 billion tons, by 2020.

Experts now say that India not only has no need of any new coal-fired plants for at least a decade, given that existing plants are running below 60 percent of capacity, but that after that it could rely on renewable sources for all its additional power needs.

Rather than building coal-fired plants, it is now canceling many in the early planning stages.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/world/asia/india-coal-green-energy-climate.html

Uh-huh. OTOH http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/adanis-coal-mine-project-in-australia-granted-water-licence/articleshow/58026783.cms

Perhaps they want electricity the other 15 hours per day when the sun is shining elsewhere.

55Jay · June 3, 2017

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

It seems the whole world is united in condemnation of America pulling out of the agreement.The America First idea seems destined to see America becoming less and less significant in the world order, as other countries are already moving closer together in ways that would have been unlikely not long ago.

That seems to be the trend over the most recent 16 years in general.

"Mind your own business" "Solve your own problems"

Who knows, maybe Trump is the right villain for the times. If his decision causes the sky to fall and, as you say, "moves other countries closer in a way that would have been unlikely not long ago", that's a good thing.

After all, the consensus is America's time in the sun is about over, and their pollution, with all the measures and restrictions already in place, isn't more harmful than Poor Folks' unfettered pollution. The polluting 3rd/Developing world is low hanging fruit and needs all the help and resources it can get to catch up with the times.

I would say to them, yes, the glaciers are melting, the seas are rising, not a moment to spare. So quit wasting time moaning about an irrelevant USA, and get on with it.

thaibeachlovers · June 3, 2017

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

It seems the whole world is united in condemnation of America pulling out of the agreement.The America First idea seems destined to see America becoming less and less significant in the world order, as other countries are already moving closer together in ways that would have been unlikely not long ago.

All good then. The rest of the western world needs to man up and stop hanging onto America's apron strings.

They can still do all the things they would have done without the US, but without the US paying for it.

Go for it western countries, ban cars, ban air travel, ban fossil fuelled electricity and food production. Oh, they aren't going to do any of that and will only tax their citizens more! Good luck with that making an iota of difference in average temperature.

I just heard the director of the Sierra Club on tv saying that more people work in Walmart than the coal industry as if that's a good thing. Walmart are notorious for paying workers as little as possible!

thaibeachlovers · June 3, 2017

I wonder how all the pro Paris people are going to react when their taxes go up to pay for it. I can see government banning cars that are not within a new car's pollution level. How will everyone that can't afford a new car deal with that?

I'm still waiting for moves to ban mass air tourism, which is a high polluting industry and is absolutely unessential.

Perhaps meat should be banned as well, as farm animals cause a huge amount of air pollution.

Just saw someone from The Climate Group on Al Jazira saying that we need to concentrate on solutions. I AGREE. Pity there aren't any proven solutions to "climate change" out there.

Something just occurred to me as the old "clean energy will create lots of jobs" mantra was being mouthed. That's not going to happen. Robots will be building solar panels and wind turbines etc. Few jobs going to be created there for humans.

dick dasterdly · June 3, 2017

The 'world' is doing as little as possible to save the destruction of our planet's resources and wildlife.

Money and big business are far more important - hence the promises are always that x will happen over MANY years, frequently subsequently delayed or ignored.....

I have some sympathy for developing economies, as first world countries became such as they did the same a long time ago....

dick dasterdly · June 3, 2017

8 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I wonder how all the pro Paris people are going to react when their taxes go up to pay for it. I can see government banning cars that are not within a new car's pollution level. How will everyone that can't afford a new car deal with that?

I'm still waiting for moves to ban mass air tourism, which is a high polluting industry and is absolutely unessential.

Perhaps meat should be banned as well, as farm animals cause a huge amount of air pollution.

Just saw someone from The Climate Group on Al Jazira saying that we need to concentrate on solutions. I AGREE. Pity there aren't any proven solutions to "climate change" out there.

Something just occurred to me as the old "clean energy will create lots of jobs" mantra was being mouthed. That's not going to happen. Robots will be building solar panels and wind turbines etc. Few jobs going to be created there for humans.

And therein lies the problem.

Wealthy businesses are allowed to pass the cost of finding better alternatives on to the consumer, and no political party in their right mind is about to effectively reduce air travel so that its only affordable to the wealthy elite.

Polluting cars is a side issue, as we reduced that problem a long time ago, whilst getting nowhere near to solving it....

Smarter Than You · June 3, 2017

5 hours ago, halloween said:

Uh-huh. OTOH http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/adanis-coal-mine-project-in-australia-granted-water-licence/articleshow/58026783.cms

Perhaps they want electricity the other 15 hours per day when the sun is shining elsewhere.

Ever heard of batteries?

Apparently they can store power.

Amazing huh?

Edited June 3, 2017 by Smarter Than You

halloween · June 3, 2017

7 minutes ago, Smarter Than You said:

Ever heard of batteries?

Apparently they can store power.

Amazing huh?

Ever heard of a Gigawatthour. Try sticking one in a battery.

What is amazing is the number of people with no training or experience in electricity generation or transmission who are prepared to give an uninformed opinion.

Smarter Than You · June 3, 2017

1 hour ago, halloween said:

Ever heard of a Gigawatthour. Try sticking one in a battery.

What is amazing is the number of people with no training or experience in electricity generation or transmission who are prepared to give an uninformed opinion.

Ever heard of this guy?

Probably a touch more knowledgable the you.

GuiseppeD · June 3, 2017

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

China and Europe pledged on Friday to unite to save what German Chancellor Angela Merkel called "our Mother Earth",

Where's Michael Jackson when you need him? Shamone, hee hee.

Lodestone · June 3, 2017

Sign In

World pledges to save 'Mother Earth' despite Trump's snub to climate pact

Recommended Posts