Last year, the world erupted as President Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement. World leaders and far-left media outlets accused the president of scientific illiteracy and acting only in the interest of big business due to his decision. However, BP recently announced that America is now the world leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
As discussed in BP’s report, the U.S. has reduced CO2 levels by 41.8 million tons between the years 2016 and 2017, a drop that has steadily continued for the past three years. Also, the diminishment is more than double the next closest nation included in the study, Ukraine.
Hypocrisy
According to the U.S. Federal Statistics System, the recent decrease in greenhouse gases has been accomplished through investments in renewable energy, most commonly wind power and hydroelectricity. Also contributing to the decline is the more efficient use of electricity.
Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Commerce recently announced that the country’s gross domestic product experienced the highest growth rate in four years, with an increased annual rate of 4.1% in the second quarter of this year. As America continues to lead the way in cutting CO2 levels, other world powers lag behind.
The 2015 Paris Agreement attempts to assist and support collaborating nations in decreasing greenhouse gases through various strategies. Soon after President Trump’s announcement of withdrawal from the accord, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau asserted that he was “deeply disappointed” in the U.S. and that all nations must work to make environmental progress for the safety and success of future generations.
Trudeau further declared, “Canadians know we need to take decisive and collective action to tackle the many harsh realities of our changing climate.” However, Canada has increased their CO2 output by about 17 tons since 2016. In fact, numerous countries have experienced similar significant growths despite their allegiances to the accord, including China, which accounts for about 28% of the world’s emissions.
Consequences
The journal Toxicological Research published that carbon content, such as CO2, in air pollution is considerably correlated with increased blood pressure. It also doubles the risk for obesity, chronic pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease in older adults.
A study published in the peer-reviewed Nature Climate Change found that about 153 million premature deaths worldwide due to heart and lung disease and stroke linked to air pollution could be prevented this century by decreasing fossil fuel outputs. Such fatalities are especially prevalent in Africa and Asia. In fact, in Kolkata and Delhi, India, cutting emissions are projected to save over eight million lives.
Africa and Asia are not the only areas in which lives may be saved. The publication projects that diminishing air pollution levels in developed nations could potentially prevent between 120,000 and 320,000 premature deaths.
While numerous world leaders and leftist media outlets continue to claim that the Trump Administration is destroying the environment, Americans have become the world leaders in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If only other countries could now follow suit, potentially saving the lives of millions, especially in impoverished, developing nations. That is, however, if protecting vulnerable citizens worldwide was ever in the interest of world leaders involved in the Paris Agreement.
