After threatening to pull out from the Paris agreement on Climate Change, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may have a change of heart and is now singing a slightly different tune. But what could have possibly caused to have this 70-year-old billionaire an inkling that he is on the side of wrong?
Trump: Non-Believer of Climate Change?
Even before deciding to run as a candidate for GOP Presidential Nominee, Trump was known has been known as a non-believer when it came to climate change, global warming and anything relevant to the topic. In fact, in a tweet back in 2012, Trump even blamed the Chinese for creating the concept of global warming to make U.S.-based businesses non-competitive.
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012
And even before throwing his hat to then large pool of GOP presidential nominee-wannabes, Trump has not backed down on climate change, even moving all out:
Snowing in Texas and Louisiana, record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond. Global warming is an expensive hoax! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2014
As if his tirades aren’t hitting the bullseye, he called climate change and global warming topics as ‘non-sense’:
Give me clean, beautiful and healthy air - not the same old climate change (global warming) bullshit! I am tired of hearing this nonsense. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2014
Trump Still Don't Have Any Idea on Climate Change
Barely two weeks after the elections, Trump was invited by The New York Times to answer some of the top issues he might face during his presidency. One of these topics includes climate change. And based on his answers (see the transcript of Trump interview), Trump still has a very long way to understanding climate change. His answers are way too far, very disconnected from what the question intends to extract from him.
One thing's important to note - Trump still thinks like a businessman. And based from Leonardo DiCaprio's 'Before the Flood' documentary, businessmen supports politicians trying to suppress facts about climate change. In return, they get the money to fund their reelection. Trump may not have direct connections with these anti-climate businessmen, but they sure sing the same tune.
Trump: Change of Heart?
During the same interview, there's but one instance highly unlikely of Trump. Asked if he will pull out from the Paris Climate treaty, "I'm going to take a look at it," Trump replied. Did he just have an open mind on climate change, a 'change of heart'? Who caused this sudden change of tune?
How about the Department of Defense at the Pentagon? Surely, must have already received minor briefings from representatives of the Pentagon. And one of them could be the recent Defense report on 'Security Implications of Climate Change'. Perhaps, Trump has already read this line which is actually the first information about climate change after some introduction:
"DoD recognizes the reality of climate change and the significant risk it poses to U.S. interests globally. The National Security Strategy, issued in February 2015, is clear that climate change is an urgent and growing threat to our national security, contributing to increased natural disasters, refugee flows, and conflicts over basic resources such as food and water. These impacts are already occurring, and the scope, scale, and intensity of these impacts are projected to increase over time."
Surely, President-elect Trump will need more than just taking "a look at it."
