DYSFUNCTION: President Donald Trump refuses to confirm global warming as a priority issue by making authorizations that hurt the environment.
By Ernie Mendez, Staff Writer
Throughout President Trump’s election campaign, it was evident that he defined climate change as a “hoax.” Trump promised to boost the oil and gas drilling, as well as the coal mining industries by reducing certain environmental regulations brought forth by the preceding president, Barack Obama. According to scientists, both of these industries are known to release harmful global warming emissions into the air. The term “global warming” is a form of climate change that describes the gradual increase in overall temperature that is attributed to certain pollutants released in the air including carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone, according the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Activities such as burning fossil fuel and driving vehicles contribute to this pollution. Despite scientific research and proof that humans are responsible for climate change, Donald Trump still refuses to acknowledge the problem. “The concept of global warming was created by and for [the] Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive,” Donald Trump said in a tweet in November 2016. Trump obviously looked at the environment with derision, willing to contaminate the environment in order to create jobs. However, Trump may find it hard to disregard climate change as the topic of global warming continues to dominate global conversation. Now, it is apparent that the United States needs a president who is willing to put the conservation of our earth before our jobs.
Obama began resolving environmental issues during his second term. One of the policies signed by Obama in September of 2016 was implemented by the United Nations (UN) alongside 132 other countries, known as the Paris Agreement— an agreement that brings UN nations together to combat climate change. Even China agreed to this policy, which is important, as the U.S. and China are responsible for a combined 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to NASA. The Paris Agreement was a seminal piece of legislation to collectively protect the planet.
Then, Trump came along.
In an article published by Cable News Network (CNN), “The Paris Agreement is bigger than Trump… isn’t it?” John D. Sutter claims that during his campaign, Trump promised not to enforce the provisions of the Paris Agreement. “Because the Paris Agreement does not levy sanctions or fines against countries that fail to meet their pollution reduction pledges, it’s possible the Trump administration could choose to remain in the agreement while basically polluting as usual,” Sutter explained. Trump does have a loophole that he can use— allowing businesses in the U.S. to pollute the earth without having any repercussions from the U.N. Although this is possible, it is currently uncertain if he will choose to do this.
Additionally, the Obama Administration implemented a temporary blocking of the Dakota Access Pipeline after much protest from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. Many environmentalists stood with the halt of the crude oil pipelines; because if the oil cannot be transported, it will not be used and therefore will not contribute to climate change.
Then, Trump came along.
This time, he reversed Obama’s halt of the Dakota Access Pipeline in order to continue its construction, and the Keystone Pipeline terms will now be renegotiated in preparation of its construction. The long battle between the protestors of the Dakota pipeline and the oil companies may have all gone to waste with one swift signing session of pipeline documents in the Oval Office. In an article written by National Geographic, titled “4 Key Impacts of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines,” Heather Brady claims “opponents have warned that the pipelines could endanger many animals and their habitats in the U.S. and Canada through the infrastructure’s construction, maintenance, and possible failures that could lead to an oil spill.” Yet again, it seems clear Trump cares more about making jobs rather than protecting the very soil that those jobs are completed on.
Finally, Obama instituted an important coal mining rule: the stream protection rule. This policy prohibits coal companies from contaminating water sources by dumping mining waste into streams and waterways.
Then, Trump came along.
On February 16, 2017, Trump signed documents that now disapprove this rule, in an attempt to save coal miner jobs and the coal industry itself. However, Vox writer Brad Plumer notes, “Killing this regulation won’t exactly fulfill Trump’s goal of reversing the coal industry’s decline; that decline has more to do with cheap natural gas than anything else.” It seems that despite Trump’s best efforts, he may not be able to save these jobs; however, he will manage to contribute to global warming.
Recently, it seems as though Trump has been pondering the possibility of climate change. He has recently stated that he will keep an open mind when it comes to climate issues. One can only imagine what that means, but hopefully Trump will realize the reality of the situation. Trump’s reluctance to grasp the concept of global warming will only create more worry. People, now more than ever, need truth and security. When it comes to the well-being of the planet and Trump’s battle to come to terms with climate change, we must be reminded that we all have a duty to protect and preserve our home for future generations.