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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2017)
NATION/WORLD Friday, June 2, 2017 Trump pulls U.S. from global warming accord, to allies’ dismay By JILL COLVIN Associated Press WASHINGTON — Pres- ident Donald Trump declared Thursday he was pulling the U.S. from the landmark Paris climate agreement, striking a major blow to worldwide efforts to combat global warming and distancing the country from its closest allies abroad. Framing his decision as “a reassertion of America’s sovereignty,” Trump said he was “elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” He said the U.S. could try to re-enter the deal under more favorable terms or work to establish “an entirely new transaction.” But he indicated that was hardly a priority. “If we can, great. If we can’t, that’s fine,” he said. Scientists say Earth is likely to reach more dangerous levels of warming sooner as a result of the president’s decision because America’s pollution contributes so much to rising temperatures. Calcu- lations suggest withdrawal could result in emissions of up to 3 billion tons of addi- tional carbon dioxide a year — enough to melt ice sheets faster, raise seas higher and trigger more extreme weather. By abandoning the world’s chief effort to slow the tide of planetary warming, Trump was fulfilling a top campaign pledge after weeks of building up suspense over his decision. The White House indi- cated it would follow the lengthy exit process outlined in the deal. That means the U.S. would remain in the agreement, at least formally, for another three-and-a-half years, ensuring the issue remains alive in the next presidential election. However, Trump declared, emphasizing every word: “As of today, the United States will cease all implementation of the nonbinding Paris accord.” He is breaking from many of America’s staunchest allies, who have expressed alarm about the decision. “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States AP Photo/Andrew Harnik President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S. role in the Paris climate change accord, Thursday in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. European leaders: Climate change deal can’t be renegotiated BERLIN (AP) — Top European leaders pledged Thursday to keep fighting against global warming as U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of the Paris climate accord, but they rejected his suggestion that the deal could later be renegotiated. The leaders of France, Germany and Italy said in a joint statement that they regretted the United States’ decision to withdraw from the accord, but affirmed “our strongest commitment” to implement its measures and encouraged “all our partners to speed up their action to combat climate change.” While Trump said the United States would be willing to rejoin the accord if it could obtain more favorable terms, the three European leaders said the agreement cannot be renegotiated, “since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economics.” Several of his top aides also opposed the action, including his daughter Ivanka Trump. Under former President Barack Obama, the U.S. had agreed under the accord to reduce polluting emissions by more than a quarter below 2005 levels by 2025. But the national targets are voluntary, leaving room for the U.S. and the nearly 200 other countries in the agreement to alter their commitments. The White House said Trump spoke with the leaders of Germany, France, Canada and Britain Thursday to explain his decision and reassured them that the U.S. is committed to the trans-Atlantic alliance and “robust efforts to protect the environment.” At home, the U.S. Confer- ence of Mayors strongly opposed the decision and said the nation’s mayors will continue efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming. Responding to Trump’s pointing to his city, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called the decision “disastrous for our planet, for cities such as Pittsburgh,” and a step that “has made America weaker and the world less safe.” In a rare statement on his successor’s policies, Obama said: “Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future, I’m confi- dent that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got.” Business leaders, normally strong supporters of Repub- lican initiatives, had vigor- ously appealed to Trump not to abandon the agreement. Many economists believe the accord would likely help create about as many jobs in renewable energy as it might cost in polluting industries. The president, however, argued the agreement had disadvantaged the U.S. “to the exclusive benefit of other countries,” leaving American businesses and taxpayers to absorb the cost. The immediate impact of Trump’s move could be largely symbolic. The White House said the U.S. will stop contributing to the United Nations Green Climate Fund and will stop reporting carbon data as required by the Paris accord, although domestic regulations require that reporting anyway. The decision has no direct impact on major U.S. regulations on power plants and car rules currently aimed at reducing carbon emissions, although those are currently under review by Trump as well. “This agreement is less about the climate and more about other countries gaining a financial advantage over the United States,” Trump said. Congressional Republi- cans applauded the decision, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky saying Trump had “put families and jobs ahead of left-wing ideology and should be commended.” But House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of Cali- fornia called it “a stunning abdication of American leadership and a grave threat to our planet’s future.” East Oregonian Page 9A BRIEFLY Wisconsin mill that exploded had been reprimanded on safety MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin corn mill that exploded late Wednesday night was reprimanded by federal safety inspectors six years ago for not taking precautions against dust explosions, which are a major hazard in handling grain, records show. The blast at the Didion Milling Plant in Cambria, a rural village about 45 miles (72.42 kilometers) northeast of Madison, left at least two people dead. Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards confirmed the body of the second worker was found late Thursday afternoon. Emergency crews were still searching for a third worker. Nearly a dozen other employees were taken to area hospitals. None of the workers have been identified. The cause of the blast remained unknown as of Thursday afternoon, Didion officials said. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators were on the scene. At a news conference Thursday evening, Cambria Fire Chief Cody Doucette said a smaller fire occurred in a different part of the facility on Monday. Investigators were working to determine whether there was a link between that fire and Wednesday night’s explosion, Doucette said. Mayor: Puerto Rican militant to step aside from parade role NEW YORK (AP) — A Puerto Rican nationalist recently freed from prison has agreed to step aside from any formal role in New York City’s Puerto Rican Day parade, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Thursday. “Oscar Lopez Rivera agreeing to step aside from any formal role in the parade is a critical step forward in refocusing our city’s attention on the more important issues facing Puerto Rico,” the Democratic mayor said in a statement. Parade organizers had planned to honor Oscar Lopez Rivera, a member of the Armed Forces of National Liberation, or FALN, which claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings in the 1970s and 1980s. Lopez Rivera was not charged with carrying out any of the bombings himself, but he was convicted of charges including seditious conspiracy and served more than 35 years in prison before his sentence was commuted by Democratic President Barack Obama. The parade’s decision to honor Lopez prompted sponsors including Coca-Cola, JetBlue and AT&T to drop out of the June 11 march up Fifth Avenue. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said he wouldn’t be marching. Science Says: Weather forecasts improve, under the radar WASHINGTON (AP) — Make fun of the weatherman if you want but modern forecasts have quietly, by degrees, become much better. Meteorologists are now as good with their five-day forecasts as they were with their three-day forecasts in 2005. Both government and private weather forecasting companies are approaching the point where they get tomorrow’s high temperature right nearly 80 percent of the time. It was 66 percent 11 years ago, according to ForecastWatch, a private firm that rates accuracy of weather forecasts. That may not always be appreciated, especially if your livelihood depends on getting rain and snow amounts, and timing, just right, all the time. “They don’t know what’s going to happen,” complained Washington taxi driver Antenhe Lashitew. He makes more money when it rains or snows, so he wants them to be more precise.
