President Trump’s Views on Climate Change Have Reportedly “Evolved”

President Trump’s view on climate change has reportedly evolved at the Group of Seven summit in Taormina, Italy, on Friday.  It is said that his views altered “after European allies personally pressured him to reverse his vow to abandon an international agreement to limit greenhouse-gas emissions”.

Considering remaining in the 2015 Paris environmental accord, President Trump seems to have done a 180^o turn in his standings on such a topic, especially when he declared climate change a “hoax”.  For instance, he tweeted earlier during his campaign, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”

National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn comments on Trump’s change, saying, “His views are evolving.  He came here to learn.  He came here to get smarter.”  Feeling more knowledgeable on the subject, Trump “learned how important it is for the United States to show leadership.”

Phillip Rucker of The Washington Post writes that, “the European leaders impressed upon Trump that a global agreement, even if more than 100 nations sign on, has little power if it is not endorsed by the United States… The president of France tried to persuade him, as did the prime minister of Belgium and the heads of the European Union.  Then there was Pope Francis, who presented Trump with a copy of his encyclical on preserving the environment and the ‘care of our common home.’”

Contemplating his final decision regarding the United States standing in the 2015 Paris environmental accord, Trump says that his decision will reflect “what’s best for the United States.”  Realizing that this decision has been of priority for discussion within the Trump administration, nationalists and globalists have battled for the opportunity to have their words heard by the President.  Cohn, for instance, is among those who are for the participation of the United States in the accord.

Currently unclear about his decision, “White House officials have signaled that he might strike a compromise that involved lowering the U.S. emissions targets that some industries see as constraining growth while staying in the accord.”  It is clear that his choice will impact all, not only within the United States, but throughout the world.  Regardless of his decision, all must be hopeful that this resolution will bring about an advantage for the world.