Climate study at odds with Trump’s fossil-fuel agenda

THE US will face devastating economic and health impacts from climate change by the end of the century, a new federal report has warned. National Climate Assessment outlines the projected impact of global warming in every corner of US society, in a dire warning that is at odds with Donald Trump’s pro-fossil-fuels agenda.

“With continued growth in emissions at historic rates, annual losses in some sectors are projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century — more than the current GDP of many US states,” the report said.

The report runs counter to statements frequently made by Trump, who has claimed global warming is a hoax. The president once again tweeted last Wednesday, “Whatever happened to Global Warming?” as temperatures were set to reach record lows on the US thanksgiving holiday.

The Trump administration has been rolling back environmental and climate protections to maximise pro- duction of domestic fossil fuels, including crude oil — already the highest in the world, above Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Last year, Trump said the US was withdrawing from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, claiming the environmental benefits did not outweigh the potential damage the Accord would have on the US economy. None of the countries in the G20 have met their climate targets, though the US is the only nation to withdraw its support from the Paris Climate Accord.