The Ugliest American

In this century Americans need not travel abroad and invade countries to be hated. Under President Donald Trump the U.S. can threaten the earth’s survival simply by ignoring the threat of climate change without boarding a plane.

“Extreme weather could kill up to 152,000 people yearly in Europe by 2100 if nothing is done to curb the effects of climate change, scientists say.

“The number is 50 times more deaths than reported now, the study in The Lancet Planetary Health journal said.

It “found that weather-related disasters could affect about two-thirds of the European population annually by the year 2100 (351 million people exposed per year [uncertainty range 126 million to 523 million] during the period 2071–100) compared with 5% during the reference period (1981–2010; 25 million people exposed per year).

“About 50 times the number of fatalities occurring annually during the reference period (3000 deaths) could occur by the year 2100 (152 000 deaths [80 500–239 800]).

Lancet

As scientists were reporting the growing risk last week, Trump formally notified the Paris climate change conference that the U.S. would not take part. He already has supported downgrading pollution rules, though leaders of many states and cities have disregarded his actions and say they will still observe recommendations. Some are even setting higher standards.

Paris Climate Change

Against all evidence, Trump wants the U.S. to return to coal, though it is too expensive and cannot meet the nation’s needs. Science and business have moved on to other sources, including solar, wind and nuclear.

“Distribution of global emissions reinforces the need for broad multilateral cooperation in mitigating climate change. Fifteen to twenty countries are responsible for roughly 75 percent of global emissions, but no one country accounts for more than about 26 percent. Efforts to cut emissions—mitigation—must therefore be global, reports the Council on Foreign Relations.

The United States, the world’s second leading polluter, is the only major nation to pull out of the Paris negotiations.

National Pollution Rankings