To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
An environmental impact statement published by the Trump administration last month predicts the while its plan to roll back federal rules for cars and light trucks would increase greenhouse gas emissions, as the Washington Post summarized, "that policy would add just a very small drop to a very big, hot bucket." (Photo: Danielle Scott/Flickr/cc)
Despite the Trump administration's own prediction that by the end of this century, the world could warm "a disastrous" 7degF, or about 4degC, above pre-industrial levels, the president has decided not to curb greenhouse gas emissions, but instead to use the devastating findings to justify and intensify his pro-fossil fuel agenda.
"The amazing thing they're saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then they're saying they're not going to do anything about it."
--Michael MacCracken, former federal scientist
Buried in a 500-page draft environmental impact statement (pdf) published by the Department of Transportation last month, and highlighted by a Washington Post report on Friday, is the "startling assumption" about just how high the planet's temperature will soar by 2100.
The document was produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a defense of the administration's proposal to roll back greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks.
"While the proposal would increase greenhouse gas emissions, the impact statement says, that policy would add just a very small drop to a very big, hot bucket," the Post explained. "The analysis assumes the planet's fate is already sealed."
\u201cTrump administration:\n\ud83d\udd25 We don't believe in climate change\n\ud83d\udd25 But the temperature is going to go up by 7 degrees Fahrenheit anyway\n\ud83d\udd25 So let's loosen restrictions and pump more CO2 in the air.\nThis is criminal. It will kill more people than all the wars combined.\u201d— Earthling / \ud83e\udda3: journa.host/@ziya (@Earthling / \ud83e\udda3: journa.host/@ziya) 1538141008
\u201cThe *literal* \u201cburn it all down\u201d approach to policy\u201d— Chris Hayes (@Chris Hayes) 1538144427
The document's conclusions, and the Trump administration's subsequent moves to push policies that appease polluting industries at the expense of people and the environment, baffled and alarmed experts.
"The amazing thing they're saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then they're saying they're not going to do anything about it," responded Michael MacCracken, who served as a senior scientist at the U.S. Global Change Research Program from 1993 to 2002.
Pennsylvania State University scientist Michael E. Mann noted on Twitter Friday that experts previously have warned that "business-as-usual" emissions would cause the global temperature to rise 4-5degC or 7-9degF by the end of the century, which, as the Post pointed out, would produce "catastrophic" consequences for the planet and its inhabitants.
"With this administration, it's almost as if this science is happening in another galaxy," Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists told the newspaper. Although federal researchers have clearly asserted in recent research that human activity is producing dangerous planet-warming emissions, as Cleetus put it, "that feedback isn't informing the policy."
Their concerns about the Trump administration come as researchers for the United Nations warn that on a global scale, governments around the world are failing in their efforts to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement--from which President Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw, even as every other nation on the planet has pledged their support for the accord--which aims to limit global warming to 1.5degC above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
"It's extraordinarily challenging to get to the 1.5degC target and we are nowhere near on track to doing that."
--Drew Shindell, climate scientist
"It's extraordinarily challenging to get to the 1.5degC target and we are nowhere near on track to doing that," Drew Shindell, a Duke University climate scientist and a co-author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that will be unveiled in South Korea early next month, told the Guardian.
"While it's technically possible, it's extremely improbable, absent a real sea change in the way we evaluate risk," he said. "We are nowhere near that."
Although Shindell did not disclose precise details about the forthcoming IPCC report ahead of the U.N. meeting that convenes Oct. 1, he emphasized that policymakers the world over must implement policies to reduce emissions from cars, trucks, and airplanes as well as from fossil fuels--especially coal--by transitioning to clean sources of energy such as solar and wind.
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Despite the Trump administration's own prediction that by the end of this century, the world could warm "a disastrous" 7degF, or about 4degC, above pre-industrial levels, the president has decided not to curb greenhouse gas emissions, but instead to use the devastating findings to justify and intensify his pro-fossil fuel agenda.
"The amazing thing they're saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then they're saying they're not going to do anything about it."
--Michael MacCracken, former federal scientist
Buried in a 500-page draft environmental impact statement (pdf) published by the Department of Transportation last month, and highlighted by a Washington Post report on Friday, is the "startling assumption" about just how high the planet's temperature will soar by 2100.
The document was produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a defense of the administration's proposal to roll back greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks.
"While the proposal would increase greenhouse gas emissions, the impact statement says, that policy would add just a very small drop to a very big, hot bucket," the Post explained. "The analysis assumes the planet's fate is already sealed."
\u201cTrump administration:\n\ud83d\udd25 We don't believe in climate change\n\ud83d\udd25 But the temperature is going to go up by 7 degrees Fahrenheit anyway\n\ud83d\udd25 So let's loosen restrictions and pump more CO2 in the air.\nThis is criminal. It will kill more people than all the wars combined.\u201d— Earthling / \ud83e\udda3: journa.host/@ziya (@Earthling / \ud83e\udda3: journa.host/@ziya) 1538141008
\u201cThe *literal* \u201cburn it all down\u201d approach to policy\u201d— Chris Hayes (@Chris Hayes) 1538144427
The document's conclusions, and the Trump administration's subsequent moves to push policies that appease polluting industries at the expense of people and the environment, baffled and alarmed experts.
"The amazing thing they're saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then they're saying they're not going to do anything about it," responded Michael MacCracken, who served as a senior scientist at the U.S. Global Change Research Program from 1993 to 2002.
Pennsylvania State University scientist Michael E. Mann noted on Twitter Friday that experts previously have warned that "business-as-usual" emissions would cause the global temperature to rise 4-5degC or 7-9degF by the end of the century, which, as the Post pointed out, would produce "catastrophic" consequences for the planet and its inhabitants.
"With this administration, it's almost as if this science is happening in another galaxy," Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists told the newspaper. Although federal researchers have clearly asserted in recent research that human activity is producing dangerous planet-warming emissions, as Cleetus put it, "that feedback isn't informing the policy."
Their concerns about the Trump administration come as researchers for the United Nations warn that on a global scale, governments around the world are failing in their efforts to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement--from which President Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw, even as every other nation on the planet has pledged their support for the accord--which aims to limit global warming to 1.5degC above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
"It's extraordinarily challenging to get to the 1.5degC target and we are nowhere near on track to doing that."
--Drew Shindell, climate scientist
"It's extraordinarily challenging to get to the 1.5degC target and we are nowhere near on track to doing that," Drew Shindell, a Duke University climate scientist and a co-author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that will be unveiled in South Korea early next month, told the Guardian.
"While it's technically possible, it's extremely improbable, absent a real sea change in the way we evaluate risk," he said. "We are nowhere near that."
Although Shindell did not disclose precise details about the forthcoming IPCC report ahead of the U.N. meeting that convenes Oct. 1, he emphasized that policymakers the world over must implement policies to reduce emissions from cars, trucks, and airplanes as well as from fossil fuels--especially coal--by transitioning to clean sources of energy such as solar and wind.
Despite the Trump administration's own prediction that by the end of this century, the world could warm "a disastrous" 7degF, or about 4degC, above pre-industrial levels, the president has decided not to curb greenhouse gas emissions, but instead to use the devastating findings to justify and intensify his pro-fossil fuel agenda.
"The amazing thing they're saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then they're saying they're not going to do anything about it."
--Michael MacCracken, former federal scientist
Buried in a 500-page draft environmental impact statement (pdf) published by the Department of Transportation last month, and highlighted by a Washington Post report on Friday, is the "startling assumption" about just how high the planet's temperature will soar by 2100.
The document was produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as a defense of the administration's proposal to roll back greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks.
"While the proposal would increase greenhouse gas emissions, the impact statement says, that policy would add just a very small drop to a very big, hot bucket," the Post explained. "The analysis assumes the planet's fate is already sealed."
\u201cTrump administration:\n\ud83d\udd25 We don't believe in climate change\n\ud83d\udd25 But the temperature is going to go up by 7 degrees Fahrenheit anyway\n\ud83d\udd25 So let's loosen restrictions and pump more CO2 in the air.\nThis is criminal. It will kill more people than all the wars combined.\u201d— Earthling / \ud83e\udda3: journa.host/@ziya (@Earthling / \ud83e\udda3: journa.host/@ziya) 1538141008
\u201cThe *literal* \u201cburn it all down\u201d approach to policy\u201d— Chris Hayes (@Chris Hayes) 1538144427
The document's conclusions, and the Trump administration's subsequent moves to push policies that appease polluting industries at the expense of people and the environment, baffled and alarmed experts.
"The amazing thing they're saying is human activities are going to lead to this rise of carbon dioxide that is disastrous for the environment and society. And then they're saying they're not going to do anything about it," responded Michael MacCracken, who served as a senior scientist at the U.S. Global Change Research Program from 1993 to 2002.
Pennsylvania State University scientist Michael E. Mann noted on Twitter Friday that experts previously have warned that "business-as-usual" emissions would cause the global temperature to rise 4-5degC or 7-9degF by the end of the century, which, as the Post pointed out, would produce "catastrophic" consequences for the planet and its inhabitants.
"With this administration, it's almost as if this science is happening in another galaxy," Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists told the newspaper. Although federal researchers have clearly asserted in recent research that human activity is producing dangerous planet-warming emissions, as Cleetus put it, "that feedback isn't informing the policy."
Their concerns about the Trump administration come as researchers for the United Nations warn that on a global scale, governments around the world are failing in their efforts to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement--from which President Donald Trump has vowed to withdraw, even as every other nation on the planet has pledged their support for the accord--which aims to limit global warming to 1.5degC above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
"It's extraordinarily challenging to get to the 1.5degC target and we are nowhere near on track to doing that."
--Drew Shindell, climate scientist
"It's extraordinarily challenging to get to the 1.5degC target and we are nowhere near on track to doing that," Drew Shindell, a Duke University climate scientist and a co-author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report that will be unveiled in South Korea early next month, told the Guardian.
"While it's technically possible, it's extremely improbable, absent a real sea change in the way we evaluate risk," he said. "We are nowhere near that."
Although Shindell did not disclose precise details about the forthcoming IPCC report ahead of the U.N. meeting that convenes Oct. 1, he emphasized that policymakers the world over must implement policies to reduce emissions from cars, trucks, and airplanes as well as from fossil fuels--especially coal--by transitioning to clean sources of energy such as solar and wind.
