News of Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, otherwise known as COP21, the 21st meeting of its kind that was dedicated to combatting global warming, has diffused across news outlets and social media, sparking disapproval from both sides of the aisle. Facing backlash from not only other committed nations, such as China and Germany, Donald Trump is now witnessing a coalition of mayors and governors who plan to uphold environmental policies.
The resignation of the United States from the Paris Agreement occurred after the G7 Summit, a meeting of seven advanced nations to express their policy concerns and to reach a consensus and multilateral approach. Prior to the talks, it was anticipated that there would be disagreements resulting from Trump's unique opposition to the climate change policies. Not surprisingly, on the first of June, Donald Trump delivered a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House declaring the end of the United States' involvement in the Paris agreement, although he adds that he is considering rejoining or joining another agreement, only should the terms be favorable to the United States.
The basis of Trump's decision appears to be revolved around the economy and how to best foster a stronger market in the United States. However, it appears that if the effects of the decision should ripple through the market, the impact would be negative. Several companies, such as Apple, Google and Tesla, have openly expressed their disappointment as Tim Cook has attempted to dissuade Trump, and Elon Musk has left Trump's advisory council.
And, most alarmingly, Trump may just have severed relations with China while he attacked China's commitment to the Paris Agreements. President Trump allotted much of his time in order to discuss China's so-called circumvention or exemption from the terms of the monumental COP21 agreements, stating that the country "can do whatever they want for 13 years" while the United States would have to carry out the blunt of the work. He also argued that China would "be allowed to build hundreds of additional coal plants", a privileged apparently not extended to the United States.
In reality, the United States has turned to cheaper alternative sources of energy, such as natural gas; China has promised to cut back on its coal dependency. Already, China has been moving towards cleaner sources of fuel: for example, buses in larger cities are being replaced with electric buses, driving their sales which some Chinese companies are celebrating. Despite skepticism towards China's ability to maintain climate goals, its government has clearly prioritized environmental protection which is undoubtedly a significant first step.
Largely, the effects on the economy will come from international trade and the tech sector since China is America's biggest trade partner; however, China lacks such dependency on the United States since its largest trading partner is, in fact, the European Union. And, now longer driving more environmentally friendly tech innovations, the United States could fall as the global leader, and most likely China will fill that position.
Regardless of one's approach to Trump's decision, one that considers the environment or the economy, the U.S's departure from COP21 was a poorly formed decision that will, doubtless, reflect upon not only Trump's constituents but also foreign counterparts. Moving forward, it is everyone's responsibility to serve and protect the environment because it is unacceptable to allow one man's inadequacy to hurt the environment and, indirectly, the economy.
