Trump’s decision to pull U.S. from Paris climate accord draws ire, concern

‘Every action counts’

I am writing in reaction to the the June 2 news article “Trump: U.S. to exit climate accord”: President Donald Trump’s actions were not only shortsighted and uninformed, but disastrous for the future of humanity.

As an environmental scientist, I understand well the negative impacts of climate change on our world, such as heat waves, flooding, drought, food shortages and the spread of infectious diseases. I have up until now only taken actions to reduce my personal environmental footprint, but now I feel compelled to speak out.

While nobody can individually stop global warming, everyone can take many actions that will make a difference. Do something today. Donate to an environmental nonprofit. Join a local environmental group. Take the bus more. Eat less beef. Install a programmable thermostat. Talk to your friends and family. Write a letter to your local newspaper.

Every little action counts.

America ‘moving backward’

Regarding the June 2 news article “Trump: U.S. to exit climate accord”: The oft-used phrase “Make America great again” means little when America’s allies have lost confidence in its leadership (or lack thereof) by an administration that fails to recognize the significance of cooperation with its global partners. President Donald Trump has the cavalier attitude that the world is a prize for the taking, and that America’s standing became something less than great prior to his administration.

My immigrant grandfather was a person who contributed to the greatness of America when he immigrated to America in 1912 from Belarus. My grandfather labored for low wages in the steel mills of Gary, Ind., and eventually settled in Detroit. He endured the thick factory smoke and long hours that were prevalent at the time. It was labor that few recollect with nostalgia. Life expectancy and quality were compromised by almost no regulations for industrial pollution and working conditions.

America has not lost its greatness, and Americans need to embrace the knowledge that “burdensome regulations” erasing the conditions my grandfather experienced are part of America’s legacy and quality of life. With the recent decision to not join forces with 195 counties in the Paris climate accord, America is moving backward toward 1912.

Trump ‘missed point’

Regarding the June 2 news article “Trump: U.S. to exit climate accord”: When President Donald Trump characterized the Paris climate accord as a choice between Pittsburg and Paris, he missed the point. This is a matter of voluntarily joining the vast majority of the Earth’s countries in recognizing the effects of human activity on the health of the Earth, and coming together to address the issue.

America has now joined Nicaragua and Syria as the only countries that refuse to act, and in doing so has both symbolically and in reality given up its position as leader of the world. Trump refuses to acknowledge that climate change is occurring. As has been his pattern, he is grossly misinformed and makes statements with no basis in fact to justify his dangerous decisions.

Trump has failed to provide leadership by mischaracterizing the issue and revealing once again that his understanding of issues across the board is lacking.

Take care of Earth

Regarding the June 2 news article “Trump: U.S. to exit climate accord”: I began my meteorologist career as an Air Force weather officer at Seymour Johnson AFB, and eventually retired from both the Air Force Reserves and the National Weather Service. I look back over the years since the 1960s and see progress in improving the climate, such as the elimination of acid rain, smoggy skies and brown clouds.

Now, the brave politicians of the past are gone, and America is left with many national politicians who are climate deniers and/or climate do-nothings. Understanding greenhouse gases isn’t rocket science, but if they admit that climate change is occurring, we would expect them to do something about it, which is a monumental task.

Confronting the challenge of climate change doesn’t have to be a disaster. Let’s forget the national and state politicians. This issue needs CEOs, church leaders, environmental groups and others to take the lead in planning and preparing for the future. In particular, here in North Carolina, we have faith-based and environmental groups that can help in the advocating process.

I’m not especially religious, but there is something to be said about taking care of creation. Let’s get on with that task. The future will be what people make of it: Let’s make it wonderful.

Science backs up claims

Regarding the June 2 news article “Trump: U.S. to exit climate accord”: I have been a science geek since childhood. I watched ants and had a little colony in a jar. I got my weekly reader in the summer after much anticipation from week to week. I had a book my mom got me on space, a very big deal. She also ordered a science kit of the month club for me.

I am so disappointed in many of my generation and those younger who deny science and its methods, who deny climate change, who follow any pundit who denies the evidence accumulated with all of the wonderful methods and processes that scientists have developed to back up their claims. Scientists are sometimes not the best communicators, because they simply see what others deny and dispute as evident.

This story was originally published June 3, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Trump’s decision to pull U.S. from Paris climate accord draws ire, concern."