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Charlotte Talks: A Discussion Of Trump's Decision To Pull U.S. Out Of Paris Climate Agreement

NASA

Monday, June 5, 2017

President Trump pulls the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What this means for the Carolinas, the environment, business and America's position as a leader. 

On Thursday, President Donald Trump made good on his campaign promise to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement. The historic 2015 climate deal, which includes nearly every country in the world, set goals to limit greenhouse gas emissions in order to help curb the rise of global temperatures.

With this move, the U.S. is now just one of three nations not included in the agreement. The U.S. is one of the largest polluters in the world, the second largest contributor to carbon emissions. Critics say that by pulling out of the deal, the U.S. compromises its role as an international leader on climate and risks jeopardizing international relations.

Trump has said the Paris accord puts the U.S. at a competitive economic disadvantage and kills jobs in the coal and oil industries. In his announcement on Thursday, Trump called the U.S. the world leader of environmental protections, and said he would "begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord or an entirely new transaction" and that he wants to "make a deal that's fair."

What does this move mean for the United States' position in climate leadership and our relationship with other world powers? What does it mean for the deal itself and for climate change and the environment? Mike Collins and his guests discuss those issues and more.

Guests

Camila Domonoske  - Reporter for NPR

David Boraks - Environmental reporter for WFAE

Brian Magi - Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Dept. of Geography and Earth Sciences, UNC Charlotte 
 

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Erin Keever is Senior Producer of WFAE's Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins. She has been with the show since joining the station in 2006. She's a native Charlottean.