President Trump, how will you meet the Paris climate commitments while rolling back environmental regulations?
The Eiffel tower is illuminated in green with the words "Paris Agreement is Done", to celebrate the Paris U.N. COP21 Climate Change agreement in Paris, France, November 4, 2016.
Over President Donald Trump's first 100 days, we're asking him questions that our audience wants answers to. Join the project by tweeting this question to @realDonaldTrump with the hashtag #100Days100Qs.
#69. @realDonaldTrump, how will you meet the Paris climate commitments while rolling back environmental regulations? #100Days100Qs
The White House is claiming victory for coal country. On Tuesday, Trump signed a sweeping executive order rolling back environmental regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions. In a speech before the signing, Trump promised “a new era in American energy and production and job creation.”
“The action I’m taking today will eliminate federal overreach, restore economic freedom and allow our workers and companies to thrive and compete on a level playing field for the first time in a long time. I’m not just talking eight years,” he said.
It’s no secret that Trump and Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protections Agency, are skeptical or downright in denial of CO2’s role in climate change.
Under the Paris Climate Agreement, the US pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent of 2005 levels by 2030. Trump and others in his administration say current environmental regulations kill jobs and are terrible for the economy. That’s in opposition to the Obama administration’s estimates. Under Barack Obama, the regulations were projected to cost utilities and states $8.4 billion a year — compared to an estimated $34 billion saved in health costs from the reduction in greenhouse gases and toxic air, as well as less water contamination.
Related interactive: Trump is ending Obama-era emissions cuts. How will CO2 emissions change?
The Clean Power Plan — introduced by Obama in 2015, but blocked by the courts last year — was intended to restrict greenhouse gas emissions by power plants.
Trump promised a future with “clean coal” and dismissed the previous administration’s plan as a “crushing attack on America’s industry.” But that policy was a linchpin in American plans to meet the Paris targets. So, we're wondering how President Trump will meet those promises — if he will.
If you're wondering too, please go ahead and tweet question No. 69 at the president using our hashtag: @realDonaldTrump, how will you meet the Paris climate commitments while rolling back environmental regulations? #100days100Qs.
Thanks to Dane Hofbauer for asking this question.