Justin Gillis, Max Fisher, and Amanda Taub discuss the potential consequences of the US withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. The episode also covers the production of chocolate in Ira Ghost, the importance of international cooperation, and President Trump's meeting with Secretary of State Tillerson.
The United States has been a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions and the expectation for them to lead in reducing emissions has caused tension in climate negotiations.
The Paris Agreement relied on voluntary efforts from each country, with the US committing to emission reductions and financial support, but the Trump administration plans to withdraw from the agreement.
Deep dives
The United States' Historical Role in Climate Change
The United States has been responsible for burning far more fossil fuels than any other country, contributing almost a third of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The Expectations on the US to Solve the Climate Change Problem
The US has historically been expected to take a leading role in reducing emissions and providing financial support to poorer countries. This expectation has been a major point of contention in climate negotiations.
The Paris Climate Agreement and America's Commitments
The Paris Agreement embraced a voluntary approach, with each country stating its own emission reduction efforts. The US committed to lowering emissions by at least 26% by 2025 and contributing $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund. However, the US has faced obstacles in fulfilling these commitments, and the Trump administration intends to withdraw from the agreement.
President Trump is to announce today whether he’ll withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. What would it mean for the biggest carbon polluter in history to abandon the most ambitious effort to fight climate change? Guests: Justin Gillis, who covers the science and policy implications of climate change; Max Fisher and Amanda Taub, who write the Interpreter column. For more information on today’s episode, visit http://nyti.ms/2qIOb7K.
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