The Paris Climate Accord: Should U.S. Back Out?

Ceding leadership to ChinaRe: "'We are getting out' -- Trump withdraws U.S. from effort on global warming," June 2 news story.Our president, instead of Making America Great Again is focused on Making America Irrelevant Now. By withdrawing from the Paris climate pact, Donald Trump has ceded our country's preeminent position of international leadership to China, a Communist dictatorship, and put us in the exalted company of Syria and Nicaragua.Climate change is not just a moral or environmental issue, it is an economic issue as well. Investment in clean energy can help grow our economy; environmental catastrophes as a result of climate change can damage it.America is the greatest, most powerful nation in the history of the world. However, our president's action on the climate accord make us look petty and just like any other ordinary nation.Instead of tweeting about cofveves at odd hours in the morning, our president would better serve himself and the country by reading classic works of American literature, including comic books by Stan Lee. Maybe then he will realize that with great power comes great responsibility. A responsible America that provides leadership to the world expands opportunities for Americans at home.Asit Shankar, MurphyParis accord is a bad dealHow does the media explain what seems to be a lack of comprehension concerning both climate change and treaties? First, do you recall the Kyoto Treaty? Canada dropped out to avoid $13 billion in penalties. Plus, carbon emissions from all the participating countries increased over the past 10 years.Second, the Paris climate accord is a bad deal. How else to explain giving the worst polluters, China and India, a free pass until 2030? Facts are pesky things.Fred Stewart, WylieWhere's the proof?What was the climate issue in the '70s? Global cooling. The great preponderance of scientific evidence was that there was a New Ice Age coming.Then the next disaster was acid rain. The atmosphere was so polluted that acid was predicted to fall from the sky. There was then and now, global warming but no definitive proof, just a future possibility.Give me definitive proof, and I might be worried. Until then, I will recycle and not waste resources. When I go camping or have a picnic, I will clean up after myself. I will do the right thing, because it is the right thing.I will not attempt to force others, since what others do is none of my business. Almost all of Texas was at one time under water. At one time, a sheet of ice covered almost the entire world. The ice melted, and the ice refroze, without any input from man.Is there climate change? Yep, without a doubt, it has always changed. Is it man-made? That is debatable. Clean up after yourself, do the right thing and wait for real proof before getting upset about Paris.Benjamin H. Johnson, IrvingLed into a new Dark AgeI sent this note to my representatives and senators.Here we have an ignorant president who rejects science and knowledge and focuses on self and image. He listens to bigoted isolationists who reject tolerance and continues to lead the United States into a new Dark Age. We are focusing on dead industries like coal mining and reject the future of energy independence with new technologies. Fossil fuel will bridge the gap between the past and the future. I do support the oil and gas industry and agree it is a key component of the United States economy and is needed to help us on the path to the future. Coal is not a viable component of that path forward.We cannot focus inward and progress. We are part of the greater world nations and the direction of the United States is going backward. How can you let this continue? I agree that jobs are important, but not jobs in dying or dead industries. We need to focus on the future and innovation. We will not lead the world by going back to jobs in horse and buggy industries. You know that.I have no confidence in Congress and the executive branch.Jeffrey Arnoldi, McKinneyConservation and wind powerThe president and our senators are mistaken. Through conservation and a switch to wind power, Austin College in Sherman has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by almost 40 percent since 2008. The financial consequences: savings of more than $400,000 per year.Peter Schulze, ShermanDirector, Center for Environmental Studies at Austin CollegeCan't breathe? No problemWhat's the worst that can happen by walking away from the Paris accords' goal of lowering pollution? Many more Americans will suffer from respiratory disease. No problem. Beautiful Trumpcare by Republicans will cover everyone, except for the 23 million who get dropped or priced out. Trump voters not in the 1 percent sure are getting their votes honored.Robert Staebell, RichardsonTrump places America lastIn his heart of hearts (if he has such), can President Donald Trump truly believe that climate change is a hoax and that fighting it is costing our country jobs? Or is it just a ruse to keep his worshipers happy and faithful? Seems to me he's looking out only for his own welfare to the detriment of the country. America Last! Shame, shame, shame.Rich Liebman, DallasGas or wind?The Paris accords would have forced President Donald Trump to convert from a natural gas bag to total wind bag.Eric Foster, Gun Barrel CityWithdrawing is a bad ideaI feel that the country withdrawing from the Paris climate accord is a very foolish thing for the president to do. When nearly every other country in the world, including North Korea, is a part of a climate accord that will benefit the world for generations to come, withdrawal seems like a very bad idea.Leaving it substantially lowers our leadership standing in the world and opens the door for destroying our environment more than we already are.The terms of the agreement are voluntary. The accord doesn't force you to do anything, so leaving just shows a disregard for improving the environment.Simon Rose, LewisvilleCombat current problemsWhen it comes to global anything, it seems that Mother Nature has a way of making a fool of us all. The past reveals the evolution of the earth, along with disappearance of species such as the dinosaur.The things humans do to this world are probably of small consequence, and it can all change in an instant with impact of objects from outer space and/or multiple weather changes. None under the control of us.It would seem more logical to attack famine and the quickening world population; the loss of farmland to concrete jungles; the emergence of violent and deadly diseases are becoming very prevalent. Why don't the nations make a greater effort by uniting to save the human race? Money spent on nations that ignore global warming efforts should be used to combat the overpopulation, famine and the deadly diseases we now face.Roland Draper, PlanoCalifornia overstepsRe: "California, China sign climate deal -- Brown steps forward after Trump backs out of Paris agreement," Wednesday news story.Gov. Jerry Brown, on behalf of the state of California, has no business executing a "climate deal" with China, or with any foreign government for any reason for that matter. In fact, Brown's action is manifestly unconstitutional.The citizens of the United States, through the Constitution, have granted such "deal" making powers with foreign entities to the president alone upon agreement of two thirds of the Senate. States may not usurp this power. Article I, Section 10.1 of the Constitution specifically forbids states from entering into such deals as Brown thinks he has done.It doesn't matter if some think the deal really doesn't have any teeth, or that it involves California alone; states are not permitted to make deals with foreign governments, period.Gary Hancock, ArlingtonExtreme weather isn't proofIn a recent Fox News interview, climate alarmist Al Gore argued that extreme weather events are proof of catastrophe. He said, "We've had 11 once-in-a-thousand-year downpours in the U.S. just in the last 10 years." His statement is laughable for two reasons.First, U.S. historic weather data exists for only the past century. Because climate changes naturally and unpredictably over hundreds of years, thousand-year extremes are unknown. Estimates are based on an unrealistic assumption that climate never changes.Second, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration compiles precipitation data from 1,119 locations. That averages out to 1.1 thousand-year occurrences per year, or about 11 over 10 years. There is nothing unusual about 11 extreme downpours, except in the minds of those who cannot do arithmetic.Ken Ashby, Dallas  Continue reading...