Others fill the gap left by Trump’s exit

U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly claims he alone is capable of restoring the United States to its former economic and political power.

However, notwithstanding the predictable frequency of such selfserving claims, Trump’s controversial withdrawal from the environmental commitments of the U.S. under the Paris climate agreement was based more on his own politically motivated considerations than on valid opposition to the urgent need to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to combat global climate change.

Trump’s American critics see his action based more on his ongoing efforts to maintain the support of those who voted for him during the U.S. election and to demonstrate that he’s the sole American politician who keeps his word on his commitments, even if he faces predictable opposition from the so-called entrenched power groups responsible for the U.S.’s alleged loss of political and economic strength and diminished international respect.

According to Trump, his willingness to take on this difficult and thankless task despite never-ending opposition and criticism from the power structure is clear proof he’s making progress in his efforts to “make America great again.”

Despite Trump’s efforts at selfpraise, growing numbers of Americans are appalled by the president’s latest action undermining international efforts to deal with climate change.

Even normally discreet governments, including in the European Union, have criticized Trump’s undermining of international collective efforts to reduce the extremely dangerous threat to the global environment. Members of his own Republican Party have raised concerns over the global implications of abandoning the Paris understandings.

In response, Trump and those opposing such strong environmental action have in turn pointed the finger at China, the No. 1 polluter, the U.S. being second.

While criticism of China’s role in creating greenhouse gases is valid, there nevertheless is an international realization that expecting China to reduce emissions too quickly could have disastrous economic fallout not solely for its still-developing economy, but also for world trade if the extremely important Chinese economy were seriously harmed, causing a major downturn with dangerous consequences for other countries.

Despite the extended period allotted to China to cut its massive emissions, Beijing has recognized the urgent need to reduce its emissions as quickly as possible, especially because of the serious air-pollution levels confronting the Chinese population. (China will provide developing countries $3.1 billion under the Paris deal.)

Notwithstanding the negative reaction of other countries, some regard the withdrawal from the Paris accord as an action that could spur some countries to increase their efforts to find ways to tackle the threat posed by greenhouse gas emissions.

Even the American energy sector had already begun to find ways to reduce coal consumption, to the extent that some of the coal mines Trump wants to save were no longer profitable because of the increased role of alternative energy sources.

Some American states, especially California, have actively promoted increased reliance on alternative energy sources, including solar energy.

Countries such as Germany are promoting alternative energy sources. Many regions of Germany are dotted with wind turbines.

As former president Barack Obama put it during a speech June 6 in Montreal, what’s needed is a “cleanenergy breakthrough” to systematically fight climate change.

While Canada’s federal and provincial governments are only recently realizing the possibility of moving more rapidly to develop new energy methods, growing numbers of ordinary Canadians are turning to such basic technologies as solar panels on private homes as good investments for both economic and environmental reasons.

By his politically motivated withdrawal from the Paris environmental commitments, Trump might have inadvertently galvanized the international community to undertake a more rigorous approach to safeguarding the planet.

Paradoxically, Trump’s unilateral action is also unexpectedly causing other countries, including traditional allies such as Canada, to consider adopting more independent policies on critical issues where Trump no longer is viewed as playing a muchneeded role.

This changed reality has been made very evident in the new foreign and defence policies announced by the Trudeau government.