Tuesday 4 April 2017

Trump to gut Obama climate policy

Trump to gut Obama climate policy.
BACKGROUND :
(i) Last US President Barack Obama had taken many federal measures in order to meet American commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
(ii) Collectively, these measures could have moved the U.S. closer to its commitment of reducing its carbon emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, though they were not sufficient.
(iii) One of the measures was the Clean Power Plan that sought to nudge the U.S. power industry from coal to renewable energy.
TRUMP'S MOVE :
(a) The current President Donald Trump is set to issue a sweeping executive order to reverse those measures, including undoing the previous regulations on fossil fuel.
(b) This will bring about a total turnabout in America's climate policy.
(c) With this, more federal land will be open to mining and power plants will be allowed to continue on coal without facing curbs imposed by previous climate regulations.
(d) Trump says that the climate related policies devalued American workers and caused unemployment, especially in fossil fuel related industries.
REACTIONS :
1. Trump voters and many people unemployed due to climate regulations are happy with his steps.
2. However, environmental are protesting. They point out to the last three years being the three hottest years on record. They say Trump is reversing the biggest steps US has taken to fighting climate change.
INDIA'S TAKE :
For its part, India said that regardless of what America does to combat climate change, India would remain firm on its Paris Agreement commitments.

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