From a president to a mere …………………!

President Donald Trump could have made a mark for himself at Paris, he indeed has but of a different nature. As nations around the globe were celebrating the World Environment Day on June 5^th, the imprecise decision taken by Donald Trump shared the highlight.  Many world leaders have called Donald Trump’s action to pull out of Paris summit as a disappointment. I won’t just say that I am disappointed with President Donald as was expecting it. It had been a long time when he had not come out with his astonishing statements and uttered something that would get him attention that he so desires. Also he needed something spectacular to take away the focus from Russia’s possible interference in the US elections.

Had he left Paris with world leaders agreeing on and signing a statement, Donald Trump would not have got that opportunity. He created that opportunity and got all that he desired, though sounding funny. President Donald Trump’s rejection of the agreement that has 190 countries on board to reduce greenhouse gas emission is inexcusable and shows that he is abandoning his responsibility to fight one of the biggest hazards currently confronting the world. His good bye statement at Paris, ‘I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris’, may sound good to many. However, by making this statement he has undermined himself from a world leader to the Mayor of Pittsburgh. As per him, his concern for the US companies is justifiable.  However, the same US corporations and environmentalists wanted President Donald Trump to keep United States in agreement. They wanted their President to fulfill the commitments towards the environment especially when the corporations are almost half way to reaching the targets that were imposed by the global agreements. Those corporations had worked practically so hard to come so closer to the targets, but due to the decision taken by their President, they lost an opportunity to set benchmarks and lead by example.

As Donald Trump created a simple escape mechanism, there were practical suggestions put forth by other leaders. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opined and laid out a five-point plan to mobilize support for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. U N Chief came out with a detailed plan and appealed to the coal, oil and gas industries to speed up their transition to sustainable energy. Many nations including Canada and India are doing their good work. President Trump had an opportunity to showcase the good work being done by the US Corporations but he came prepared to pull the plug. Guterres made the point that was blasted to Trump at the Group of 7 meeting in Sicily, saying, “Those who embrace green technologies will set the gold standard for economic leadership in the 21st century,” but a day later President Trump moved away from the agreement. UN Chief called upon nations to even more reduce the emissions to limit the global temperature and asked UN and other countries to support those countries that can’t afford to meet those goals. Guterres was able to express his concern for the environment and put forth some practical views.

With United States taking a U-turn, certain world leaders would have to take on from here.  Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Kathleen Wynne would have a larger role to play, as immediate neighbors the Canadians get affected from Trump’s decisions, especially when world leaders will meet again in July at the G20 Leaders Summit in Hamburg and they would have a compelling argument to be made for United States to join back in the climate agreement. Environment Protection Agency has said that US gas emission fell 11.5 percent between 2005 and 2015, and is halfway towards meeting the voluntary target set in the accord. Encouraging response by all means. Donald Trump knew that it’s a shared responsibility   and he as the President of the United States had even greater role to play. What Donald Trump has done is outrageous. Ontario gets affected directly from his decision, and Premier Kathleen Wynne sent a strong message to him, “It’s very disappointing to hear the president of the United States does not see the USA at the federal level having a role to play in fighting climate change.”  Major boost to the effort to control environment came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and expressed that he was inspired by the growing momentum around the world and the transition to clean growth economies. His assurance that Canada will continue to work with the domestic and international partners to drive progress on one of the greatest challenges the world faces today, assures Canadians that as a nation we are on the right path.  Global response to climate change needs the U.S. to participate as it is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases.  Is that possible with Trump kind of thinking?