UW professor remains optimistic after U.S. ditches climate pact

It may have felt like President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord meant the end of life as we know it. But Cliff Mass, a University of Washington professor of Atmospheric Sciences, remains optimistic that the action could have some positive outcomes.

On his blog, Mass writes that Trump’s decision can “serve as a reality check.” By that, he means maybe it will encourage Republicans, as well as Democrats, to tackle the problems with greenhouse gases and climate change.

In truth, the Paris Accord was a voluntary agreement, with little teeth, and inadequate to do the heavy lifting that is necessary to deal with increasing greenhouse gases.

The U.S. joined the treaty, which sets common goals, commitments, and expectations, through executive order from President Obama. The treaty wasn’t ratified by Congress.

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Though the U.S. pledged, for example, to reduce emissions by up to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025, it would be up to corporations and individuals to actually do so. In other words, it was voluntary.

Mass points out that the treaty could even be “problematic.”

… it gave folks the impression that mankind was dealing with global warming, while we were really kicking the can down the road.

The UW professor argues that climate change should be depoliticized and, while the federal government may be absent from the discussion, individual states can still take action.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has already begun. Last week, Inslee called the decision to withdraw from the accord “pathetic.” But he did more than grandstand. Inslee also announced he will join a coalition of states that will uphold the values of the Paris Accord.

You can read Mass’ entire blog here.

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