President Trump withdrew the U. S. from the Paris agreement on climate change. Readers comment on the pros and cons.
President Trump withdrew the United States from the international Paris agreement on climate change. Comments are edited for clarity and grammar:
Part of President Trump’s campaign was a promise to bring back coal jobs, but the majority of Americans already knew he’ d have no influence in the coal industry.
We need to look toward other energy sources.
— Jeff Hartung
People all around the world look to the United States as a global leader. What today represents is Trump leading us back to the Stone Age. He is absolutely deplorable.
Climate change skeptics will be the first ones to sue the federal government when their waterfront homes in Florida are under water. Thanks, Trump, for one massive step backward.
— Michael Shea
What people around the world look to the United States for is our money. The common thread to all the programs Trump is canceling is that they are all bad economic deals for the country. He wants other NATO countries to pay their agreed share. What a bad man for thinking that, right?
Trump is backing out of the Paris agreement, which had us shipping lots of money to those with their hands out. For the first time in quite a while, a U. S. president is actually watching the store.
— Dave Hammond
Coal is not the future. Renewable and clean energy can be cheaper and better. Let’s get on board with the Paris agreement again. Let’s keep our country exceptional.
— Robert Montgomery
— Gene Stensaker
I think that the only reason some people want the U. S. to commit to this agreement is so that the U. S. can pay even more money to poorer countries. I say no! My tax dollars should stay at home and work for me.
— Larry Hubble
China and India have signed the agreement, but they don’t really participate — they seem to only do “in spirit.” That’s one of the reasons the president dumped it — it’s ineffective. We can manage our own environmental policy. But we can’t manage the globe.
— Craig Russ
The Paris agreement was too little too late in today’s environment. It didn’t matter if the U. S. remained part of the deal.
— Kevin Clark
We are already reducing reliance on fossil fuels in all states. I speak from experience of more than 25 years in the energy efficiency industry. Reducing tax credits on solar would still hurts the industry for the next several years, but as far as I can see, major companies, universities, industries, states, are all on board with reducing our carbon footprint. It makes economic sense. If Trump pulls out, that won’t slow our progress down. Trump could help increase energy efficiency, but I don’t see it slowing unless he reduces tax credits for wind and solar, and that won’t be needed within a decade or less.
— David Landman
Good for Trump. He needs to continue taking care of America, not the world.
— @JRivera1964
Trump did the best thing for America, not globalists!
— @kel2195
Countries need to know we’ re partners, not their banker. #AmericaFirst
— @DebbieBrandt1
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