Perhaps this article should come with a trigger warning...
Could President Trump be one of the few leaders that sees the difference between the Global Warming Mania and actual environmentalism?
The problem with the idea of global warming as the most important environmental challenge facing humanity, is that it is patently false. Ecological destruction, local air and water pollution, ocean pollution and resource depletion are all far greater and more immediate threats to all life on the planet.
The issues with focusing on a global and abstract threat like 'global warming' are that:
- It is difficult for people to relate to or have a feeling of empowerment over. They are scared of the consequences but have no options to act. The solution is all down to governments donating taxpayers money to global institutions.
- Because of (1) people have adapted to make themselves feel better about their lack of action on a personal level through virtue signalling and collective outrage which perpetuates the misguided approach.
- At the same time this ideology embraces globalism, one of the biggest (and most unnecessary) contributors to carbon emissions and ecological destruction and, ironically, believes that the solution is to throw money into a global fund.
Actual environmentalism on the other hand, should prioritise local-level policy and action to drive changes towards cleaner power generation, cleaning up our water, air and food supplies, ecological protection and sustainable resource exploitation. Part of this comes from maximising localisation of the economy - the opposite of globalisation. It seems obvious that it is only on the local level where people feel they can make a real difference and can be fulfilled by their efforts.
Here is an excerpt from the full article
"He made the comments after saying that he would cancel payments to the United Nations for a Green Climate Fund under the Paris climate accord. Instead, the money would be “used to support our environmental infrastructure” with the goal of clean water and air.
Trump reiterated the same sentiment in a meeting with automakers early in his presidency
“I am to a large extent, an environmentalist. I believe in it,” he said. “But it is out of control.”
But Trump is no longer trying to convince people of his environmental leanings. Instead, the administration is implementing energy programs that focus on technological innovation over regulation, much like past Republican administrations.
The Energy Department has been making frequent announcements about funding, international agreements, and private-sector collaboration to push clean energy development."
