Paris climate agreement

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The Paris climate agreement (also known as the Paris accord) is an international agreement intended to fight climate change. A globalist treaty, it is described as "the first universal, legally binding deal to tackle global warming."[1] Despite this, the actual substance of the agreement was specifically worded to be non-binding, presumably to allow it act in the United States as an executive agreement rather than a treaty, thus allowing President Barack Obama to circumvent Senate approval when adopting it.

While liberals and globalists strongly support the agreement, its effect and benefits were significantly less than hoped for.[2] France's implementation of the agreement caused the yellow vest movement.

Origins

The Paris climate agreement was agreed to by 195 nations on December 12, 2015.[3]

At the time of its adoption, many liberals and environmentalists opposed the agreement because they did not believe it effective enough to stop supposed climate change.[4][5][6] Conservatives also opposed the agreement due to the negative economic consequences on the United States that would result from following the agreement despite its inadequacy in stopping supposed climate change, among other reasons.[7][8][9][10] Some conservatives noted the hypocrisy of the liberals negotiating the agreement.[11]

Goals and effects

The Paris climate agreement is intended to "limit" global temperatures at 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.[1] The deal requires developed nations to fund poorer nations so they can develop "green" energy and adapt to the supposed effects of climate change, which is achieved through a new fund called the "Green Climate Fund."[3] Numerous developing countries took advantage of this by committing to more anti-pollution/emission efforts if they are paid.[12][13] When adding up all the pledges made by the signatory nations in the Paris agreement, the agreement, if fully enforced, would not meet its global temperature limit.[14] Yet, the climate science establishment continues to insist that a large portion of the Earth will become a desert if the Paris agreement is not adhered to.[15]

China's emissions are expected to increase until 2030, while the European Union is attempting to decrease emissions by 40 percent by the same year.[12] By November 2017, global emissions had risen by 2%, with China's increase being very large.[16]

Despite their climate pledges for the agreement, G-20 countries continued investing in fossil fuels – four times as much than in renewable energy.[17] Despite European environmental alarmism, U.S. coal exports to Europe (along with Asia) rose 60% in early 2017 compared to the previous year.[18] According to Lawrence Solomon of the environmentalist organization Energy Probe, "most signatories are ignoring, if not altogether abandoning Paris commitments."[19] Not even the EU took its provisions seriously.[20] In 2019, it was reported that of the top 10 carbon-emitting countries, not one had met the agreement's goals.[21] By November 2019, only two of the top thirty-two carbon-emitting countries had adopted policies that would allow them to abide by the agreement's goals.[22]

Conservatives noted the flawed underlying presuppositions for the agreement and the failed reasoning for remaining in it.[7][8][9][10]

Efforts to reduce carbon emissions

France stopped granting licenses for oil and gas exploration in France and its territories,[23] and it set a goal of ending the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040 in its effort to comply with the agreement's carbon reduction goals.[24][25][26] The United Kingdom also set a goal of banning gasoline or diesel vehicles by 2040.[27]

Legality under U.S. law

The Paris climate agreement was specifically worded to use non-binding language for much of its contents, including the actual emissions level that the nations are meant to cut.[28] The use of non-binding language was likely intended to allow the agreement to 'count' as an executive agreement rather than a treaty, as the Constitution stipulates that ratification of a treaty requires the supermajority consent of the Senate.

However, binding executive agreements are only allowed within the President's authority. The Paris Agreement does not entirely fall into the President's authority, so its binding articles are problematic. As a result, some analysts and commentators have argued that the binding articles of the Paris Agreement (such as its 4-year exit period) make it a treaty that cannot be ratified without the consent of the Senate, which would make the agreement unratified and Obama's executive order unconstitutional.[29][30][31]

U.S. withdrawal

To the dismay of world leaders,[32] the media,[33] and other liberals,[34] and in a major blow to former President Barack Obama's legacy,[35] U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and immediately stop its implementation,[36][37][38] including by ending payments to the U.N. Green Climate Fund.[39] In his announcement speech, Trump made clear that "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," and that "our withdrawal from the agreement represents a reassertion of America’s sovereignty."[37][40][41]

Although many environmentalists opposed the Paris agreement for not being strong enough, they opposed the U.S. withdrawal, with some accusing President Trump of committing "environmental racism."[42]

Some globalists, such as EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker,[43] said that Trump's decision to leave the agreement was illegal because the supposedly non-binding agreement had a clause that does not allow countries to leave until 4 years after its ratification.[44] As stated earlier in the 'legality' section, the argument that the clause is binding would defeat the argument that Obama had the authority to enter the agreement without the consent of the Senate. Some respond that the authority for the legally binding elements of the agreement are derived from the UNFCCC, a prior agreement that was ratified by Congress,[44] but the UNFCCC does not mention many of the binding elements in the Paris Agreement, such as the requirement for emission 'targets'.[29] A very small minority believe that President Trump's decision to leave the agreement was illegal due to the fact that it was performed unilaterally with an executive order. Even ignoring the Liberal hypocrisy in their beliefs, the Supreme Court essentially legalized the unilateral withdrawal from any agreements by refusing to hear a case against President Carter's decision to withdraw from the China-US Mutual Defense Treaty, which was a binding agreement ratified by the Senate.[45]

According to a Washington PostABC News poll, 59% of Americans opposed the decision to withdraw from the agreement versus 28% in support.[46] However, a Rasmussen poll found that 41% of Americans believed the Paris agreement would have increased energy costs versus 20% thinking the opposite and 23% saying it would have no effect.[47]

Many Democrat-controlled states opposed Trump's action, and Hawaii became the first state to enact a law implementing the Paris agreement's standards.[48]

Communist North Korea condemned the U.S. for leaving the accord.[49][50]

An app was created for people opposed to President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement.[51]

Despite left-wing and establishment criticism of U.S. withdrawal from the agreement, the U.S. was well on its way to reducing emissions, showing that the Paris agreement was unnecessary for the U.S. from an emissions perspective.[52]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Gosden, Emily (December 12, 2015). Paris climate change agreement 'a major leap for mankind'. The Telegraph. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  2. Murphy, James (March 29, 2018). The Myth of the Paris Climate Accord. The New American. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Rothwell, James; Gosden, Emily; Crilly, Rob; Millward, David (December 12, 2015). Paris climate change deal - ministers adopt historic agreement to keep global warming "well below" 2C. The Telegraph. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  4. Harvey, Fiona (December 14, 2015). Paris climate change deal too weak to help poor, critics warn. The Guardian. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  5. Chernyshova, Daria (December 11, 2015). Paris Climate Deal Unlikely to Be Strong Enough – Environmentalist Group. Sputnik. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  6. Adler, Ben (December 9, 2017). The Big Climate Agreement Won’t Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground. Mother Jones. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Hayward, John (June 1, 2017). Top 7 Worst Reasons to Keep the Paris Climate Accord. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Carney, John (May 31, 2017). Every Bad Thing We Will Avoid By Rejecting the Paris Climate Accords. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Delingpole, James (April 21, 2017). Delingpole: Climate Realists Urge President Trump to Pull out of Suicidal, Expensive and Pointless Paris Agreement. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Harbin, Christine (June 5, 2017). The Paris climate agreement was a terrible deal for the US. Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  11. Harsanyi, David (December 4, 2015). Paris Climate Talks Reveal Progressivism’s True Hypocrisy. National Review. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Wolfgang, Ben (June 5, 2017). Developing nations in Paris climate accord threaten to keep polluting unless they’re paid. The Washington Times. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  13. Delingpole, James (June 7, 2017). DELINGPOLE: Paris – Trump Just Dodged A $2.5 Trillion Bullet. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  14. Delingpole, James (November 1, 2017). Delingpole: Trump Vindicated; Now Even the UN Confirms That the Paris Climate Accord Was a Complete Waste of Space. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  15. Siciliano, John (January 1, 2018). Earth becoming a desert without climate deal, scientists warn. Washington Examiner. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  16. Wolfgang, Ben (November 13, 2017). Paris deal failing? Global emissions up 2% despite U.S. drop; Chinese pollution skyrockets. The Washington Times. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  17. Wolfgang, Ben (July 5, 2017). Despite Paris accord, G-20 countries invest four times as much in fossil fuels as green energy. The Washington Times. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  18. Multiple references:
  19. Williams, Thomas D. (October 22, 2017). Report: Most Signatories Are ‘Ignoring’ or ‘Abandoning’ Paris Climate Commitments. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  20. Rogan, Tom (November 28, 2018). Even the EU is treating the Paris climate agreement as a joke. Washington Examiner. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  21. The major emitters that are meeting their Paris Agreement pledges. Axios. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  22. Richardson, Valerie (November 5, 2019). Paris climate agreement leaking oil as emissions rise, political unrest spirals. The Washington Times. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  23. Bamat, Joseph (June 23, 2017). France to stop granting oil exploration licences. France 24. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  24. Henry, Devin (July 6, 2017). France to end sales of gasoline, diesel vehicles by 2040. The Hill. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  25. Samuel, Henry (July 6, 2017). France to 'ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040'. The Telegraph. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  26. Chrisafis, Angelique; Vaughan, Adam (July 6, 2017). France to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040. The Guardian. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  27. Henry, Devin (July 26, 2017). UK to ban diesel, gasoline vehicles by 2040. The Hill. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  28. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/your-top-5-questions-about-the-paris-climate-agreement-answered
  29. 29.0 29.1 https://www.heritage.org/environment/report/the-paris-agreement-treaty-and-should-be-submitted-the-senate
  30. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/06/01/the-u-s-cant-quit-the-paris-climate-agreement-because-it-never-actually-joined/
  31. Delingpole, James (November 6, 2019). Delingpole: Obama Dragged U.S. into Paris Climate Accord Illegally, Claims Lawsuit. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  32. Multiple references:
  33. Multiple references:
  34. Multiple references:
  35. Wolfgang, Ben (June 1, 2017). Trump eviscerates Obama’s Paris legacy. The Washington Times. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  36. Chakraborty, Barnini (June 1, 2017). Paris Agreement on climate change: US withdraws as Trump calls it 'unfair'. Fox News. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  37. 37.0 37.1 Moons, Michelle (June 1, 2017). Trump: U.S. Will Withdraw from Paris Climate Accord. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  38. Easley, Jonathan (June 2, 2017). Trump cements 'America First' doctrine with Paris withdrawal. The Hill. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  39. Volcovici, Valerie; Mason, Jeff (June 1, 2017). Trump abandons global climate pact; allies voice dismay. Reuters. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  40. Mason, Ian (June 1, 2017). Trump: Time to Put Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania Before Paris. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  41. Despite mockery from liberals due to the fact that the mayor of the city of Pittsburgh supported the Paris accord, Trump won the Pittsburgh metro area:
  42. Williams, Thomas D. (June 6, 2017). Trump Accused of ‘Environmental Racism’ in Withdrawal from Paris Agreement. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  43. https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-climate-juncker-you-cant-leave-paris-deal-overnight/
  44. 44.0 44.1 https://www.snopes.com/2017/06/01/authority-paris-agreement/
  45. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-06-02/trump-paris-climate-change-and-constitutional-realities
  46. Savransy, Rebecca (June 5, 2017). Poll: Public opposes Trump's withdrawal from Paris deal by 2:1 margin. The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  47. Starr, Penny (June 6, 2017). Poll: Americans Agree with Trump on Paris Agreement: 41% Say Deal Would Increase Energy Costs. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  48. Phillips, Ariella (June 6, 2017). Hawaii first state to enact law in step with Paris Agreement after Trump signals exit. Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  49. North Korea slams Trump for pulling out of Paris Climate Agreement. Fox News. June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  50. Siciliano, John (June 7, 2017). North Korea: Trump's decision on Paris Agreement 'poses great danger'. Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  51. Siciliano, John (June 7, 2017). Don't like Trump's decision on Paris? There's an app for that. Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  52. Wolfgang, Ben (June 21, 2017). Who needs Paris? U.S. is well on its way to lower emissions with economic, technological changes. The Washington Times. Retrieved June 22, 2017.

External links