To almost universal condemnation Donald Trump is about to pull out of the Paris Climate Treaty – maybe. It depends on whether the New York Ivanka pro-lobby wins or the retrogressive Bannon triumphs. China and the EU are to agree a joint statement saying it is more important than ever as a rebuff. It will place the USA beside the only two non-participating countries – Syria (in civil war) and Nicaragua (which thinks it doesn’t go far enough).
On the international front, any such withdrawal “is going to damage the U.S. much more than it’s going to damage the Paris agreement itself,” said one expert. “It provides an opportunity for China to exert itself on the global stage”. And many US business leaders say it will actively harm the US economy.
Jeremy Warner in the Telegraph has another, albeit still critical, view. ‘The fracking revolution alone, by replacing coal with cheap gas, is already causing US emissions to fall precipitously. By pulling the plug on Paris, Trump only unnecessarily compounds the impression of steady withdrawal from international engagement. It serves no practical purpose other than meeting a campaign promise and sticking two fingers up at the rest of the world. It’s not going to bring back coal jobs to Virginia, it’s not going to halt the growth in renewables, and it’s not going to revive Mr Trump’s plummeting approval ratings, either at home or abroad. It is therefore an entirely worthless piece of tokenism.’
ttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/05/31/do-worst-mr-trump-renewables-train-has-left-station-wont-now/
The Paris Treaty was adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015 and received enough signatures to come into effect on 4 November 2016.
Both charts are labouring through heavy seas in 2017/18; with tr Pluto square Mars, tr Neptune square the Sun/Saturn midpoint and tr Saturn square Jupiter on the 2015 chart. And an uncertain, undermining tr Neptune square Saturn in 2017/18; plus a jolting tr Uranus square Mars now until early 2018.
So it was never going to have an easy ride into gear. It doesn’t appear to hold countries to promises in any event and the poorer countries more dependent on fossil fuels would struggle to keep up. Over time as the new technology spreads, it will pull back carbon emissions as a matter of course.
Shakespeare: ‘Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.”
Additional thoughts now the deed is done: The oil and coal barons have swayed Trump, and the isolationist Bannon, whose financial patrons are also invested in promoting fossil fuels . See urls below. A previous attempt by GWB (and Cheney), not just in thrall to oil interests but immersed in them, ended in humiliating defeat.
Trump’s relationship chart with Bannon has just started a tr Neptune opposition the composite Sun Saturn and that will run on and off till late 2018. So it’s going to end in tears or hair-tearing along the way. Though too much to expect an instant rug-pulling.
I agree with Solaia that there has to be more to this . Not that I would defend anyone in this administration , but someone (or many someones) own this president , I think . Thanks Marjorie , for your excellent work .
Well, one’s at least one small glimmer of hope: some state governors and over 61 city mayors across the U.S. have decided to abide by the Paris Climate Agreement without Donald Trump’s help. Unfortunately, I live in a “purple state” (Florida) and we have a one of the most corrupt governors in the country (Republican Governor Rick Scott). I’m not exaggerating either; Rick Scott was one of Trump’s earliest supporters and he agrees with anything and everything Trump says or does. I can almost guarantee Rick Scott supported Trump’s decision regarding the Paris Climate Agreement.
If ANY state should be supporting the Paris Climate Agreement, it should be Florida. Climate Change is probably affecting my state more than others. Scientists are warning that it’s looking more and more like the Caribbean will experience a very active (and powerful) hurricane season this year (I went through Hurricane Matthew last year; that was bad enough) and they’re predicting Florida to be one the main targets (like always). Also, we’re experiencing an acceleration of rising sea levels, beach erosion and continuous drought – the droughts we’ve been having has lead to severe forest fires spreading all over North and Central Florida (I live in North Florida). The sky has remained smoky and ash is everywhere. Once again, scientists are saying Climate Change is what’s causing all of this mess.
All in all, yesterday’s news regarding the Paris Climate Agreement, is very distressing. I hope that the few progressive state governors, city mayors and other state politicians across this country will be able to create some kind of a coalition to oppose Trump….but I know more needs to be done.
By the way, I’m astonished that even countries like the Russian Federation, China and North Korea (all of which have horrible track records regarding environmental issues) would support the Paris Climate Agreement but NOT the United States. In fact, EVERY sovereign nation supported the Paris Climate Agreement with the exception of three countries: Nicaragua, Syria and the United States. At least Nicaragua and Syria had somewhat better excuses (Nicaragua didn’t feel it went far enough and Syria is engulfed in absolute chaos). It’s embarrassing; Donald Trump and his deplorable supporters are an embarrassment to humanity.
Chris, China is supporting the Paris Agreement to strut the global stage as Marjorie quotes above and can’t you just imagine Trump thinking that China building more coal stations just ‘isn’t fair’ and if they can do it so can we. In his speech, he seemed bothered about paying ‘billions and billions of dollars’ so that other countries can create jobs in the coal industry. It isn’t at all surprising that he left, he’s all ‘jobs and money’. I find people like Richard Branson more disturbing. He has presented himself as concerned about the environment whilst owning a carbon intensive industry, flying around the world in a private jet and taking up Formula One . Sadly, this is the sort of behaviour that has contributed to climate change and he doesn’t appear to grasp that fact.
There is a popular book titled ‘Six Degrees’ by Mark Lynas and it underlines what you are saying about Florida, generally that is.Apparently, we are rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic and for any real difference to occur, there would have to be drastic changes in the way we live and that isn’t going to happen. I think of Trump’s move as inconsequential in the scheme of things and he doesn’t have the political savvy to sign up and look good like the Russians and China.
Truly sorry about your extreme weather.
I agree with Chris. Another terrible day for America.
“I was elected by the citizens of Pittsburgh,” Trump said, “not Paris.” There’s also a Paris, Texas.
I’m from Pittsburgh, I didn’t vote for him.
Pittsburgh went to Clinton by 80-20, and even the Metropolitan Area with 56 or 54-40 (too lazy to check this out). Maybe saying Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, didn’t have the same effect.
or saying Wilmerding.
There’s no Winky’s in Wilmerding…
“We don’t want other countries…to laugh at us anymore.”
When were other countries laughing at us over climate change? And which countries?
My god, the man is all alone. You can’t make this up.
Continue to be very interested in your work on American policy and elections. Was hoping that what you said about TR Neptune influencing the Trump/Bannon bond around March meant that Bannon was on his way out, but guess that was my wishful misinterpretation. It was obvious today he’s back on top.
I’m thinking Bannon is probably blackmailing Trump Family with his knowledge on their tie to Russia. He was probably the one to leak Trump’s discussions with Lavrov too, as a warning. He can do this, because they at least do not have this against him. He has been involved in Trump’s Campaign, Transition and now Administration, but not indicated in Russian Probe. If he had dealings with Russians, he wouldn’t be caught the way Kushner was, he is a Georgetown School of Foreign Service Graduate, after all. I also remember reading it was him who “brought” those deciding counties in Rust Belt to Trump, intesifying campaigning there. He already had a solid following there thanks to Breitbert. This was his reward for delivering those areas to Trump.
Trump isn’t beyond throwing his son-in-law under the bus. Most importantly, Republican Party definitely wants to firewall Russian Probe. There was a story about Jared and Ivanka considering their presence in Washington “6 months a time”. I think they were given “the option” when Bannon and Priebus flew into Washington early from Europe.
Apparently Bannon was the only one who said the Comey firing would be received badly, so now he’s back in. Kushner, with bad advice and worse headlines, is out of favor this week. Trump seems to alternate wildly on which advisers he listens to, and has a real knack for following someone’s advice precisely when that person is wrong.
Chris,
I hear your frustration. I feel despondent as I sit and watch this man and his cronies dismantle America into second rate country. I sit and jealousy watch France, Germany and Canada with leaders I would proudly love to have instead of one that embarrass me and make me cringe.
*** Corrected Post (my last post had too many typos – I guess that’s what I get for typing from my smartphone [it sometimes “corrects” words that do not need to be corrected, etc]). ***
I hate Donald Trump and the Republican Party so much. They’re a bunch of STUPID CROOKS. Trump doesn’t care about climate change, pollution and deforestation and neither do the Republicans. We are living in a society that is under a Fascist, (almost) one-party rule at the moment. I just hope those “leaks” from the White House continue “leaking” and the Washington Post continues with the “breaking news.” I just hope more incriminating information will be released and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE then the Republicans will have had enough and will sever ties with Trump. I’m also counting on the 2018 mid-term congressional, senate and gubernatorial elections (we’ll have all 3 here in Florida next year) to turn the tables; if we Democrats can retake either the House, Senate or both, then we can stop Trump ourselves. Until then, we’ll have to live in a cesspool of madness and chaos.
I hate Donald Trump and the Republican Party so much. They’re a bunch to STUPID CROOKS. Trump doesn’t care about climate change, pollution and deforestation and neither do the Republicans. The are living in a Fascist, almost one-party rule society at the moment. I just hope those “leaks” from the White House continue “leaking” and the Washington Post continues with the “breaking news.” I’m not more incriminating information will be released and then MAYBE, JUST MAYBE then the Republicans will have had enough and will sever ties with Trump. I’m also counting on the 2018 mid-term congressional, senate and gubernatorial elections (we’ll have all 3 here in Florida next year) to turn the tables; if we Democrats can retake either the House, Senate or both, then we can stop Trump ourselves. Until then, we’ll have to live in a cesspool of madness and chaos.
Chill out, Chris. Don’t act out.
Can’t forget those promises to constituents, now can we?