Trump quits Paris climate accord, calling it a “bad deal” for the U.S | Hacker News Reader

Trump quits Paris climate accord, calling it a “bad deal” for the U.S

latimes.com

38 pointskevmo22 comments

Besides the obvious concerns about the impact on the climate, I'm really surprised that Trump doesn't recognize (or prioritize) the economic costs to pulling out of the agreement.

A new axis between the EU and China could jeopardize US efforts to become a leader in the research, development, sales, and services of clean tech. As costs of clean technology naturally drop to be equal or less than fossil fuels (as is already happening), this will become a massive market that ultimately shrinks the size of the oil/gas and coal industries.

The decision to pull out of the agreement could have a large negative impact on the ability to attract leading researchers and funding, which then affects future jobs and US competitiveness in what will clearly be a massive growth industry. This will lead to job loss in oil and gas, with no commensurate increase in the jobs in replacement fields.

Trump seems to take a "public company-esque" view of governing: focus on short-term gains rather than long-term R&D and strategic planning to win the long game.

> Trump seems to take a "public company-esque" view of governing: focus on short-term gains rather than long-term R&D and strategic planning to win the long game.

Rational, if you view for governing as a tool of electoral politics rather than vice-versa.

I wish I could offer you more upvotes. Brilliant observation, perfectly said.

He's there to make his friends money. Period.

Occam's Razor says this is a simplistic view. It causes more divisiveness and demotes discussion to ad hominem attacks.

What economic cost? Rather silly view as much of the production of the beloved solar panel is in China... Have you been to any industrial cities there recently?

Certainly not advocating RPB approach, but we're simply not competitive

At least 195 other countries are joining ( except Syria and Nicaragua ), even China is joining. US is now 1 of the three countries that doesn't join. What's at stake, at least an effort to change the future.

Missed opportunity for Trump / US, i think it also reflects the change that is happening between the US and it's current partners in a very fast pace.

PS. All the jobs that Trump is talking about in the mining industry, are all getting automated

Read the agreement. The US would be giving billions to other countries yearly as part of this agreement. Of course every country on the receiving end is joining!

US will give billions if it continues to pollute. Why not stop ruining our planet instead ? Win win situation !

> US will give billions if it continues to pollute. Why not stop ruining our planet instead

Completely wrong. This is why all this outrage is nonsense. Nobody took the time to read the fine points.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/12/459502597/...

$100 Billion

"To help developing countries switch from fossil fuels to greener sources of energy and adapt to the effects of climate change, the developed world will provide $100 billion a year," NPR's Chris Joyce, who has been covering the climate conference, reports.

But that amount is identified as a "floor," not a ceiling.

"Developed countries won inclusion of language that would up the ante in subsequent years," Chris explains, "so that financial aid will keep ramping up over time."

GOOD. We should be proud to live in a country that can take leadership and promote this process.

Why would people have not heard of Nicaragua?

Actually, i had to look it up. But it's in Central America. So i ( from Europe), haven't heard anything from it ever, sorry

I think you can't extrapolate your lack of education or knowledge of basic geography to everyone else. I'm also from Europe and of course I knew Nicaragua.

As stated in the article, Nicaragua did not sign the Paris agreement because they thought it was not enough. So it's a good opportunity to learn where this country is, because they owned it.

Same topic: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14463989

So much lost opportunity for the united states to become a leader in exporting new technology.

At least we have coal.

An industry that employees about as many people as the #18 fast food chain in the US.

That scratches the surface. There are a lot of railroad jobs and other sectors supporting coal as well.

Even if you add in all the transportation and power plant jobs, it's still only about the size of the #10 fast food chain. For example, Domino's Pizza (#8) employs more people than all of coal mining, transport and power generation combined plus another 90,000.

Fair enough, but who's to say the reusable energy industry wouldn't absorb those jobs over the next few years? Seems like we're putting that industry on life support and moving future industries out 10 years, which would be more globally competitive.

Beautiful clean coal!

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