Why Would Trump Leave The Paris Agreement?

As a foreword, please note that by the time you read this piq, the White House may have already decided whether to leave the Paris Agreement. Still, don't scrap the linked article. It will probably come in handy as a guide to other atrocious climate decisions later in the term.

--

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone: Donald Trump is about to decide whether the US should stay in the Paris Agreement. Yes, he promised it during his campaign, and yes, he's cynical enough to go ahead with the move, even if it's a shot in his country's metaphorical own foot.

Let's start by saying that the Paris deal is not even remotely satisfactory. While being legally binding, it doesn't provide any mechanisms to enforce each country's pledge. It's not ambitious enough, and will require massive reforms

and larger compromises to work. So Trump doesn't need to withdraw. He could just ignore the whole thing.

Depite the many weakness of the agreement, an American withdrawal would be catastrophic. It would be a strike to the zeitgeist. Paris is not much, true, but it's what we have, and it's something we can build upon. But if the world's hegemon doesn't support an international regime, if it refuses not only leadership, but also even participation, then we're in uncharted waters. The whole deal may collapse, as other countries might feel like leaving too.

The reason I'm bookmarking this article is for its "who's who in the White House". It's interesting to see how oilman Tillerson wants to stay in the Paris deal, and Steve Bannon wants out. Makes you think of the ideology behind the move.

A malicious strike to the zeitgeist.

Jack London's Iron Heel.

Orwell's boot stamping on a human face.

All that.

But, you know what? Sometimes, even evil is disappointing. And it seems that this time, it's all about dirty coal:

Trump is committed to killing the Clean Power Plan, which strongly discourages coal-fired electricity. If he succeeds, the US would have to abandon its Paris pledge.