Dem Senator Blasts Trump’s ‘Declaration of War’ on Obama Climate Policies

On Tuesday, flanked by company executives and miners, Trump signed an executive order to swiftly nullify Barack Obama’s efforts to combat climate change.

Unlike some in the U.S., Chinese leaders have consistently said that climate change is a serious problem and acknowledged that changing the energy mix to move away from fossil-fuel sources is important.

“This is not what most people elected Trump to do”, said David Goldston, director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

He routinely mocked Mr Trump, especially over his suggestion that concern about climate change was a myth that originated in Beijing.

The White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit.

However, the coal industry received a boost post the election of Trump and has gained 10.9% in the last six months, higher than the S&P 500’s gain of 7.6%. As economist Thomas Friedman wrote, it is China and California that are taking the lead in clean energy, which is creating more jobs and business opportunities than conventional fuels like coal. The Clean Power Plan is not yet in effect, and will have to go through a lengthy rule-making process that will likely include legal challenges. “There is a better way forward, and today’s action helps to re-energize a focus on innovation over costly and unnecessary regulations”. The order also requires the EPA and Dept. of Interior to review new methane emission regulations enforced on oil and gas drilling operations.

Industry officials praised the orders, saying they will bring back jobs, especially in coal mining.

Days before Trump took charge, the Obama administration sent $500 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which the current President has refused to contribute to.

Disbanding the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases.

Brown also signed onto a separate statement released by West Coast political leaders calling climate change one of the region’s greatest threats due to wildfires, ocean acidification and drought.

The order, if fully implemented, would make US compliance impossible with the global Paris Agreement to limit climate change.

Trump’s Executive Order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend, revise, or rescind four actions related to the Clean Power Plan that would stifle the American energy industry.

China on Wednesday urged United States President Donald Trump to honour the Paris Agreement on climate change ratified by his predecessor, Efe reported. He added, ” It’s Orwellian to hear politicians claim that letting coal companies pollute will clean our air & water.

The Clean Power Plan, for the first time, set state-by-state targets for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants.