With the enormous power of the presidency, Donald Trump poses tremendous threats, but none is nearly as big as the existential threat of climate change. He is on record stating climate change is a hoax. He packed his administration with climate change deniers, gas industry shills, lobbyists and billionaires.
Trump’s presidency brought us more fossil fuel corruption and less protection for people and the planet. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and tried to eliminate the Clean Power Plan. And he delivered handouts to the coal industry while putting renewable energy and our climate-safe future on the chopping block.
He fast tracked the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, moved to increase coal production, and green-lighted drilling across federal lands. And Trump has filled government agencies with energy shills who will gladly carry out his planet-killing agenda while muzzling federal scientists because his administration ignores or denies truth and reality on a daily basis.
Trump’s plan for a free-for-all for oil and gas drilling and coal mining coupled with his move to rescind some 84 environmental regulations is a terrible threat to our air, water and health. And our climate is put at an unimaginable risk. The devastating impacts of climate change are clear. Our world is warmer than before and people and wildlife are suffering the consequences. Extreme weather is on the rise.
Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has been leading the charge and is a pioneer in bringing climate change to the forefront. He believes that we can generate massive job creation through a Green New Deal, transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. As a member of both the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he has long fought for progressive energy policies, strong environmental protection and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We need to champion environmentally responsible solutions that advocate for the well-being of all people, wildlife and planet. Become involved, generations to come and the future of our planet depends on it.
Patricia Marks
Wilkes-Barre