Trump and the Paris Climate Agreement

As the years go on, climate change worsens and effects our environment immensely. While some people may not agree climate change is an issue for today's society, the predictions for the near future say otherwise. Some effects include glaciers melting, sea levels rising, and more droughts and heat waves. If we do not change our ways, there will be consequences.

As an effort to change, the Paris Climate Agreement was created. This agreement, with close to 200 signatures, was made in order to reduce carbon emissions, slow global rising temperatures, and help countries with climate change. Previous president Barack Obama was one of the many leaders to sign this agreement in April 2016. Anyone who signed agreed to "holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels." Countries were also required to set their own goals for the reduction of emissions by 2020. The U.S. goal, set by Obama administration, was 26 to 28 percent by the year 2025.

Unfortunately, current president Donald Trump had other plans. Our president has now made the decision to withdraw from the agreement.

Not only is president Trump making a bad decision, but he is giving a bad impression to our allies. Trump's opinion on climate change has not been released to the public and the White House refuses to release that information. When EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, is asked about the issue, he quickly avoids answering it. Instead, he changes topics and begins to discuss about Paris supposedly putting us at an "economic disadvantage". Pruitt states that the decision was not based off of whether Trump thought climate change was a hoax or not.

A figure most of us are familiar with, Bill Nye, discusses and debates the issues of climate change and the Paris Climate Agreement with Trump adviser William Happer. Bill easily shuts down William's remarks on climate change with facts and evidence.

 

The future of our planet's environment is at high risk as time goes on, and choosing to ignore these issues will only lead to more turmoil in the coming years. The planet is changing faster than it may seem to us, and we need to do everything in our power to keep the place we live healthy for ourselves and the future generations.

Sources for Further Reading:

The Consequences of Climate Change - from NASA

What is the Paris Climate Agreement? - from The Washington Post

Things to Know about the Paris Climate Agreement and Trump's Decision - CBS News

Pruitt Interview and Trump's Opinion on Climate Change - from CNN

Discussion Questions:

1. As the way our world is today, do you believe we will successfully slow down climate change? How do you think we should do this?
2. Do you agree with Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
3. Why do you believe the White House is refusing to answer questions about Trump's opinions on climate change?
4. Is Bill Nye or William Happer correct about climate change? Why?