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Letter: Trump's withdrawal from Paris Accord must be condemned

Time is not on our side when it comes to fighting climate change
trump
Donald Trump (File)

Editor's note: The following letter is in response to the letter titled, “Canada should push U.S. to do more on carbon, says Sudburian who heads up national Climate Lobby,” published June 2 at Sudbury.com

I, too, join the ranks of presidents, prime ministers, American governors, blue chip business leaders, climate activists and ordinary citizens in condemning Mr. Trump for announcing his withdrawal from the Paris Accord. He wants to renegotiate, sort of.

What is the point of monumentally important agreements if one new head of state after another can simply throw the die and say, " I don't like this deal. I want to renegotiate."

Miguel Aria Canete, the European Commissioner for climate action, says the 29 articles in this agreement are to be implemented, not renegotiated. Certainly, we should use any and all legal provisions under the World Trade Organization and other possible sources like the upcoming national carbon fee and dividend.

For sure, with Trump's announcement, we now understand how critical it is to have within our national carbon fee plan a built-in component of border taxes on imports from countries who do not levy a price on carbon emissions. 

A level playing field is non-negotiable. I am sure armies of lawyers everywhere are strategizing how to force the U.S. to enact a price on carbon emissions just as American mayors and governors are digging in their heels to honour the Paris Accord within their own jurisdictions.

Time is not on our side. When 97 per cent of scientists agree that it would be catastrophic if our global temperature is allowed to run away 2 C above pre-industrial era, there is no more time. And because the U.S. is the second largest polluter in the world, the American withdrawal would add 0.3 C to global temperatures by the end of this century. 

Pity the human who has to face the reality of that. There is simply no more time for wheeling and dealing, Mr. President.

Remember: this is not about money. Trump asked Congress for $1.5 billion to build a wall to stop Mexicans from illegally entering the U.S. when such has been at a historic low. He asked for an increase of $54 billion in defence spending. Now, the world and his fellow Americans will fight with every legal tool to have the U.S. contribute towards saving the planet.

Carole Lavallée
Chelmsford