Editorial: Analysis of the US's decision to withdraw from the Paris protocol



Lesley Pocock,
Chief Editor, Publisher and Managing Director
medi+WORLD International
Email: lesleypocock@mediworld.com.au





The Trump policy to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement seems foolish indeed and will orchestrate the US’s downfall morally and economically and rob the US of its self claimed standing as “leader of the free world”.

It is noted of course that not all US States or businesses are going to adhere to this ‘directive’ and they are wise to do so, particularly those with global trade and who monopolise niche markets, such as the technology giants. The world could and should now boycott all countries and parties that are going to continue to churn out pollutants into a world greatly floundering under the excesses of humanity’s more questionable practices. Not only should the products and services of those who continue to pollute and exploit be boycotted, careful note should be made of the supply chains involved in their manufacture to encourage these same companies to use more enlightened and safe suppliers, and technologies.

It is a moral consideration for all humans whereby one generation of humans destroys the future of all humans yet to be born and also destroys the dreams, hopes and ambitions of those who lived in the past. Morally Trump’s climate Paris protocol decision is ‘bad’ (to parody the man himself) but it is also ‘bad’ economically and poor practice, poor business and without insight.

The underlying reason of course is self interest of those of his wealthy colleagues who have have personal vested interests in destructive and outdated practices. It is why they have pushed this line,. They would be the first to abandon coal miners and other workers they say they are concerned about if there was no longer any money (or votes) in it for them personally. In the 1970s, coal mining employed a quarter of a million Americans. By 2015, fewer than 100,000 people were employed in US mines. There is not even a valid economic argument for the continuation of its use.

Coal and all fossil fuel is ‘dead technology’. The Paris climate agreement not only allows every country in the world to provide a sustainable future it also provides a wealth of business and entrepreneurial opportunities based on a different set of wiser technologies.

Desert countries that receive too much sunshine and not enough rain for agriculture may now have a perfect opportunity to generate and export solar power. Windy and inhospitable countries can generate wind powered energy. The people who invent a means to store such renewable energy readily have a new global opportunity in their reach. Those with rivers and mountain ranges can use small hydro power. And they are only the current run of new forms of energy. There is huge potential for new players in the market, and not just utilising current technologies but other technologies yet to be invented or applied.

The old pollution problems, including the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the oceans awash with plastic waste could be the source of new raw materials and humans could ‘mine’ such and fix these problems at the same time. That would be clever technology and clever thinking. This is a carbon based world and carbon is going to be a part of the scene for a long time, so utilising that excess carbon in safe ways would be intelligent. These are at the moment free resources and if accessed have the double benefit of solving two problems at once.

My personal vision is for a high tech world and pristine nature. Who would not want it? It is within the scope of our ingenuity and surely a favourable outcome for all life forms. That is where we should be focusing - not digging up detritus from past prehistoric ages. It is only a good thing for the diggers and polluters. It was never a good thing for anyone or anything else.

The quantum computer, the silicon chip, solar power, improved batteries, Gravity, magnetism small hydro and tidal, even the energy within the atom has yet to be cleverly and carefully exploited.

So the US has taken a very backward step under its current administration. It is time for the flat earthers, the troglodytes and the neo-colonialists busily exploiting and economically enslaving poorer nations and commandeering their resources for their own ends, to be put an end to and each nation needs to start utilising the best of what it has in innovative and clever ways. There could be hope for all of us once the dust and the smoke disappears.

Meanwhile the southern states of the US have just had a record heatwave, hindering commercial activity. Bad.