The world energy news
continues to be dominated by Donald Trump. His doubters have hesitated to speak
out as there is certainly something to said for going over the nation’s
regulatory regime and reconsidering its configuration. However, critics still
stand by the fact that Trump’s primary initiative is to undo Obama’s progress
and undermine the science that underpins the research relating to climate
change.
Fortunately, cities and
states are taking matters into their own hands and are backed by American
enterprise. Hopefully, their actions will outlast those of the president.
1. The Trump Organisation
looks like it is going to pay out millions of dollars towards the clean up of a
polluted site. The site was overseen by Donald Jr. and is known as Titan Atlas
Manufacturing. The industrial site began in 2010 and failed two years later.
This shows the president’s attitude towards the link between environment and
business. If there is money to be made then environmental concerns are
secondary.
2. In January 2017,
the president signed an order to launch the Keystone XL Pipeline into action.
The project has been on standby since 2008 and there were doubts about how many
permanent jobs the pipeline would create. The drop in the price of oil also
caused speculation as to the economics of the project, given that it was to
cost in excess of $7 billion.
3. In July OFAC
fined Exxon Mobil $2 million for violating sanctions on Russia. The breach was
considered a reckless disregard for the sanctions, which barred U.S. entities
from dealing financially with Igor Sechin, CEO of Rosneft, a Russian
state-owner oil company.
4. Scott Pruitt, an
EPA administrator, announced on Halloween that scientists who receive research
grants from the EPA will no longer have a seat on the agency’s board. This
means that hundreds of independent scientists will no longer be able to sit on
the board but it will not stop scientists from private enterprise from doing
so. Critics have blasted the move saying it is a blatant purging of independent
scientists who may conflict with corporate interests.
5. Trump sent
ripples through the world when he decided to withdraw from the Paris climate
agreement, making the U.S. the only country in that world that is not
participating. The aim of the pact was to keep temperatures from rising more
than 2 degrees Celsius. Trump’s reasoning is flawed. He argued that he cannot
create jobs and build an economy if he has to worry about a healthy
environment. However, the U.S. economy has flourished recently whilst making
great environment strides and renewable energy
technologies are creating jobs.
6. Trump also
ditched the Clean Power Plan and is attempting to resurrect the coal industry.
However, market forces are proving stronger than the plan to roll back the
proposed emission cuts. CO2 emissions were 18% less than in 2005 according to
the EIA.
7. California has
been busy creating and implementing a strategy to reduce carbon emissions by
40% by 2030 from 1990 levels. The move is in direct contrast with Trump’s
position. By 2050 the state hopes to have reduced emissions by 80% and it
believes that this initiative will create jobs.
8. Cities and
states are certainly accelerating the low-carbon trend but it is the corporate
world that is making things happen. Companies are listening to customers and
investors and adopting technologies that will reduce emissions. Over 365
businesses have signed a letter asking Trump to go back to the Paris climate
and Clean Power Plan.
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