Commentary on Trump and Climate Policy
Terigi Ciccone
11 November 2024
Please read the article from the newspaper THE INDEPENDENT, US edition, Julia Musto, 06 November 2024.
https://www.independent.co.uk/climatechange/news/trump-climate-policy-expert-opinion-b2642635.html
The headline:
“Climate Scientists Fear Trump Will Destroy Progress In His Second Term – And The Outcome Could Be ‘Grim.’ Possible Climate Rollbacks And Ramped Up Emissions Under Trump Would Be Costly On An International Scale, Scientists Say.”
Please read the article from the Associated Press on the progress made at COP29. Here’s what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks
Please read the article from ABC News-11-Nov-2024, What is COP29 and why is it all about money?
https://www.abc.net.au/asia/cop29-baku-asia-pacific-all-aboutmoney/104584548
Part I Public Perceptions and Social Media Implications:
The above sample of recent press and media commentary highlights significant anxiety among climate scientists regarding the potential impact of Donald Trump’s second term on environmental policies. Experts fear that Trump may dismantle the financial support that U.S. universities and their associated researchers have received, which has amounted to tens of
billions annually. Critics argue that the scientific reports produced in recent times often serve as political tools rather than genuine climate science, providing talking points for various interest groups, politicians, climate activists, and unions. Priorities
in Trump’s Second Term
In his upcoming term, Trump is expected to prioritize multiple issues, including immigration, economic policies, and energy production. Analysts suggest that the most likely actions concerning climate change will involve withdrawing from international agreements like the Paris Accord, possibly cutting U.S. contributions to the UN, and climate initiatives, and halting renewable energy projects such as offshore wind farms from the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act). Historical Context of Environmental Rollbacks Historically, Trump’s first term saw extensive rollbacks of environmental regulations.
His administration reversed nearly 100 policies aimed at protecting air, water, and wildlife, with significant implications for greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, the Rhodium Group estimates that these rollbacks could lead to an increase of 1.8 gigatons in U.S. emissions by 2035 due to weakened regulations on power plants and vehicles. The New York Times reported that these actions were part of a broader deregulatory agenda that prioritized business interests over environmental protection.
Future Implications
Looking forward, a second Trump presidency could exacerbate these trends, potentially leading to further cuts in climate-focused funding and a rollback of key initiatives established under previous administrations. Experts predict that this could hinder progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions at a time when many believe urgent action is needed to combat climate change. However, Trump has reportedly been briefed on alternative viewpoints from sceptical climate scientists who argue that CO 2 and the greenhouse effect do not cause significant temperature increases. This perspective suggests that substantial financial resources could be
redirected to other societal priorities.
It’s worth noting that the “scientific consensus” proponents of climate change differ from this view. The majority of climate scientists maintain that human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, are significantly contributing to global warming. The potential reallocation of climate-focused funds to other areas remains a contentious issue. While publicly proclaiming that their “science is settled”, perhaps they are more concerned with protecting their revenue streams and reputations and will not go gentle in the good night.
Part II A Simplified Explanation of Climate Science for Policymakers and High School and University-level Science Students.
Read detailed article https://www.allaboutenergy.net/environment-man-made-all-points-northamerica?view=article&id=4142&catid=212
Introduction And Summary:
In this document, we explain the causes and mechanisms of weather, climate, and climate change. In doing so, we explain how the Earth warms and cools. We give easy-to-understand explanations of the incomplete science the UN IPCC uses in presenting their Radiative Transfer process, versus a more complete model that uses both the Radiative Transfer and the Heat Transport mechanism. Below we provide a convenient summary of the top-level impacts of the scientific principles. Then at your leisure and convenience read the details in the referenced report or use it as a source reference as and when needed in the future. For those interested in the nitty-gritty scientific facts, please explore the last section consisting of endnotes and additional details.
Findings and conclusions.
1. There is no climate change or weather or warming crisis. The Earth’s temperature has increased only about 1.3 0 C since the Earth emerged from the Little Ice Age about 175 years ago and that’s been a blessing for humanity and all life on Earth. In a few years, the Earth will experience a slight cooling of around 0.5 0 C which will last for several decades due to the sun experiencing a Grand Solar Minimum.
2. The sun is the primary driver of the Earth’s temperature. But there are other sources of heat on Earth including geologic-volcanic heat, adiabatic auto-compression, and bio-heat. Also, observations and science confirm that a warmer Earth cools faster than a cooler Earth, thus maintaining the temperatures in dynamic equilibrium within a range of +/- 1 0 C.
3. The primary source of the increased CO 2 is the slightly warmed oceans, followed by human activities. The oceans hold about 50 times more CO 2 than the atmosphere. As the waters warm, they release more CO 2 into the atmosphere. People must understand that any human effort to reduce atmospheric CO 2 will be backfilled by nature as defined by Henry’s Law. The oceans will simply release more CO 2 back into the atmosphere to restore the natural levels, making human efforts to achieve net zero extremely expensive and wasteful.
4. The increased CO 2 and slightly warmer temperatures have caused a massive greening of the planet with the increased plants providing more food and habitat for all of the earth’s creatures.
5. Atmospheric CO 2 does not cause global warming,[ 1 ] rather it acts as a cooling mechanism for the planet. 2/3rds of the heat from the Earth is transported into the atmosphere and distributed across the planet by winds and ocean currents, making a larger part of the Earth more livable and sustainable for all life.
6. At 280 ppm plants worldwide had been in CO 2 starvation and now
gobble up the additional CO 2 and reward humanity with more plants, more food, and more oxygen.
7. The increased CO 2 and slightly warmer temperatures accelerate photosynthesis, making plants more drought-resistant, especially in arid areas. [ 2 ] Together, the planet can increase plant growth, especially in the warmer and dryer areas of the world.
Part III There is no climate change crisis. There is only a pending crisis of Trump reducing the climate change funding trough.
[1] Read the article CO 2 does not cause any measurable global warming https://www.academia.edu/125516104/ THE_BENEFITS_OF_CO2_PART_2_CO2_does_not_cause_global_war ming
[2] Read the article “The benefits of increased CO2 and warmer temperatures, Part 1” (99+) Revised, the benefits of increased CO2 and warmer