On some fronts, Team Trump has been great on smacking down anthropogenic climate change as it relates to the government spending taxpayer money and forcing compliance by citizens and private entities. On the other hand, Trump still hasn’t kept his promise to kill America’s involvement in the Paris Climate Agreement, and this
(LA Times) U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed his name Thursday to a document that affirms the need for international action against climate change, adding further uncertainty to the direction of climate policy under the Trump administration.
The document, signed by Tillerson and seven foreign ministers from Arctic nations meeting this week in Fairbanks, Alaska, says the participants concluded their meeting “noting the entry into force of the Paris agreement on climate change and its implementation, and reiterating the need for global action to reduce both long-lived greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants.â€
Called the Fairbanks Declaration, the document says the leaders signed it “recognizing that activities taking place outside the Arctic region, including activities occurring in Arctic states, are the main contributors to climate change effects and pollution in the Arctic, and underlining the need for action at all levels.â€
So, um, what exactly is going on?
“In the United States, we are currently reviewing several important policies, including how the Trump administration will approach the issue of climate change. We’re appreciative that each of you has an important point of view and you should know that we are taking the time to understand your concerns. We’re not going to rush to make a decision. We’re going to work to make the right decision,†he added, pausing ever so briefly before ending with the phrase, “for the United States.â€
Tillerson was certainly referring to ecological change, but, there is some conflict as to what extent he was discussing ‘climate change.’ This group needs to get it together.
