Trump's UN Speech Dismisses Climate Change Concerns, Drawing Criticism
At the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as a "con job," a statement that drew sharp criticism from world leaders and scientists grappling with the real-world impacts of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other consequences of a changing climate.
Reactions to Trump's Claims
Ilana Seid, ambassador from Palau and head of the organization of small island states, expressed that Trump's stance was expected, but that inaction on climate change would "be a betrayal of the most vulnerable." Evans Davie Njewa of Malawi echoed this sentiment, stating that failing to act endangers innocent lives. Adelle Thomas, a climate scientist and vice chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), shared her personal experience with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, emphasizing the lived reality and urgent need for action.
Renewable Energy: Fact vs. Claims
Trump called renewable energy sources like wind power "a joke" and "pathetic," claiming they are ineffective and too expensive. However, a United Nations report found that solar and wind are now "almost always" the least expensive and fastest options for new electricity generation. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) also reported that onshore wind, solar panels, and new hydropower were the three cheapest electricity sources globally last year. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, argued that subsidies for fossil fuels artificially maintain their viability, hindering the free market.
The Paris Agreement and International Politics
Trump criticized the U.N.'s climate efforts, citing his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. He claimed the United States was paying more than other countries. The Paris Agreement is a voluntary but binding document where each country sets its own goals to curb emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation in vulnerable countries. Although China is now the largest carbon polluter, the United States has historically contributed 24% of the human-caused carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1850, according to the Global Carbon Project.
"Clean, Beautiful Coal" and the Carbon Footprint
Trump reportedly issued a standing order to only use the phrase "clean, beautiful coal." Rob Jackson, a climate scientist at Stanford University, countered that coal kills millions annually and that pretending it is clean puts lives at risk. Regarding the carbon footprint, which Trump called "a hoax made up by people with evil intentions," Andrew Dessler from Texas A&M University suggested the term was coined by oil companies to shift responsibility from corporations to individuals. Basic science dating back to Eunice Foote's experiments in 1856 demonstrates that carbon dioxide traps heat, a finding confirmed repeatedly by scientists and the IPCC.
Cows, Methane, and Environmental Policy
Trump claimed environmentalists want to eliminate cows. Nusa Urbancic, CEO of the Changing Markets Foundation, clarified that the actual message is about reducing methane emissions from cattle, a potent greenhouse gas. While Trump blamed dirty air and ocean debris on other countries and "radicalized environmentalists," experts contend that local pollution stems from domestic industries and the rollback of environmental protections by his administration. Lucy Woodall, an associate professor at the University of Exeter, criticized the misrepresentation of marine debris as a global issue.
