There was hope just a few years ago when the Paris Climate Accord was signed and that humanity, might get serious about fighting climate change, after all, the greatest existential threat that humans have ever had to face. And, every single nation (except for Nicaragua and Syria) had signed the agreement with the express purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, slow the rise of global temperatures and helping developing countries deal with the harmful effects of climate change.
As you recall, the terms of the Paris agreement was that the signatories committed themselves to "holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”. At the time, the United States was the leader in negotiating the deal, enlisting the power of the Catholic church under the guidance of Pope Francis. President Obama signed the accord in 2016, and China signed as well making the two countries that together are responsible for 40% of worldwide carbon emissions giving the world a reason to hope that we could save ourselves. Because we had a black President though, the GOP controlled congress refused to ratify the agreement. Then 2016 happened, and a madman took office and pulled the US out of the agreement with an executive order.
Trump is able to scare the crap out of so many people because he is control of the world’s most powerful nation. His temper tantrums, petty vindictiveness, and threats make other nations vulnerable to punishment from this unhinged monster so some cave to his every whim, terrified of his wrath. Now his evil has come to the G20 Summit when the nations arrive in Argentina later this week.
The draft climate communique “fails to back the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and makes no mention of the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C which warned that “Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.”
HavanaKarl Mathiesen of Climate Home News writes:
A draft communique from the leaders of the G20 shows that resolve to stand up for the Paris climate agreement against critical voices such as the US, may be weakening.
The document, seen by CHN, is the latest version of a text that may change before it is released when leaders meet later this week.
Unlike recent G20 statements, it declines to give full-throated support to the Paris Agreement, simply “acknowledging the different circumstances, including those of countries determined to implement the Paris Agreement”.
In a nod to those countries defending their coal industries, the text prepared by the Argentinian presidency says there are “varied” energy choices and “different possible national pathways”.
There is no mention of a major scientific report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was released in October; nor any direct reference to the Cop24 climate talks, which start in Katowice, Poland just a day after the meeting ends on Saturday.
In Katowice, Poland Trump plans to troll the UN climate talks with a side show that promotes coal. The talks will be held from December 2-14, 2018.
Joshua S. Hill of CleanTechnica writes:
Most disappointing, maybe, is the dramatic shift in language compared to last year’s G20 Leaders Declaration which, while acknowledging “the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Paris Agreement” nevertheless stated that the “Leaders of the other G20 members state that the Paris Agreement is irreversible.
“It seems many G20 leaders don’t have the courage to stand up to defend science and their own commitments to climate action,” said May Boeve, Executive Director at 350.Org. “This is a glaring example of how those who claim to represent us are not willing to do what it takes to protect us from catastrophic climate change and to lead us through the needed transition to sustainable energy systems.
“Politicking isn’t going to cut it. While so-called ‘leaders’ refuse to act – or even to acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence in support for a global shift away from fossil fuels- we see more people prepared to step up to fight for a just transition to a fossil-fuel free world.
“We will keep fighting in courts, building alternatives, divesting our savings, and blocking polluting projects as there is no time to waste.”
Let’s hope the G20 still has a spine and will stand up to this POS once and for all and deliver us from his evil. See: Tripled climate cuts needed to fulfil pledge
Resist--Frostpaw arrested at the #FloodWallStreet protest for climate change in NYC, 2014