With the G-20 meeting last weekend to discuss a variety of issues, chiefly among them, the Paris Agreement, President Trump again showed his lack of education regarding the realities of climate change along with the threat it poses to our world. Take the vote, 19 out of 20 nations voted to uphold the Paris Agreement with the United States being the 'odd man out,' the 'outsider.' How is this possible given the overwhelming evidence that backs the realities of climate change?
The National Academies Presidents released the following statement regarding the evidence for climate science:
June 18, 2019National Academies Presidents Affirm the Scientific Evidence of Climate ChangeRecently, questions have been raised about climate science. The National Academies have addressed many of these questions in our independent, evidence-based reports. We are speaking out to support the cumulative scientific evidence for climate change and the scientists who continue to advance our understanding.Scientists have known for some time, from multiple lines of evidence, that humans are changing Earth’s climate, primarily through greenhouse gas emissions. The evidence on the impacts of climate change is also clear and growing. The atmosphere and the Earth’s oceans are warming, the magnitude and frequency of certain extreme events are increasing, and sea level is rising along our coasts.The National Academies are focused on further understanding climate change and how to limit its magnitude and adapt to its impacts, including on health. We also recognize the need to more clearly communicate what we know. To that end, in 2018, the National Academies launched an initiative to make it easier for decision makers and the public to use our extensive body of work to inform their decisions. In addition, we will be expanding our Based on Science communications effort to include clear, concise, and evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions about climate change.A solid foundation of scientific evidence on climate change exists. It should be recognized, built upon, and most importantly, acted upon for the benefit of society.Marcia McNuttPresident, National Academy of SciencesC. D. Mote, Jr.President, National Academy of EngineeringVictor J. DzauPresident, National Academy of Medicine
The press release above obviously is part of what drives Senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's introduction of a 'Green New Deal' earlier this year. To date, Congress has held a record number of hearings with 'Climate Change' in the title. Some of which have been discussed in posts on this site.
The science is in and supports the momentum that is on display at the G-20 with the vote mentioned above reported by Politico:
"We've succeeded after days and nights of negotiations to have again, after all, a 19 to 1 declaration, where the 19 signatory countries of the Paris Agreement commit to the same things as we did in Buenos Aires," Merkel said. "We say that this process is 'irreversible' and we say that we have made our commitments [to cut greenhouse gas emissions] and will do a review again in 2020 to see whether we must make new commitments."French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the United States for trying to water down the climate commitments."We [the G20] are increasingly disconnected from the rest of the world ... Our scientists every day remind us of our duty in matters of climate change and biodiversity, our youth every week in France and many countries remind us of our duty, while we at the G20 continue having debates on whether we can still cite the Paris Agreement."
Of course, this opposition by President Trump on sound evidence is not an isolated incident. Another important topic discussed at the G-20 was the adoption of free trade. Free trade is supported by a number of other nations (and our Republican party) along with the World Trade Organization. Prime Minister Angela Merkel remarked on the issue this last weekend:
Instead, the leaders made a "clear commitment to free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent trade" and declared that a reform of the World Trade Organization is "necessary."
"And I say this quite clearly, this is so important, because otherwise the WTO will enter a phase of inability to work, and that is why the communiqué at this point was very, very important to us," Merkel added.
The reporting above further shows that America along with the rest of the world is in a storm. What should be obvious is, in fact, turning out to be a controversy. A controversy which should not even be a news sound bite. Climate change is real and supported by science. Free trade is the norm in the world. How do we know this is true? Look at the lack of policy coming out of Washington? The answer is based on history. President Trump should reverse his proposition to try to push China into a direction which would put the United States at a further disadvantage.
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