in Politics, World News

Should the United States rejoin the Paris Climate Accord?

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Screenshot from CBS News' YouTube video: The consequences of Pres. Trump withdrawing from the Paris climate accord
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Tuesday, Syria announced it would become the latest country to join the Paris Climate Accord, which is designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the agreement is to limit the rise in world temperatures to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial times. The ideal target is only a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase. Each country sets its own specific target and date by which they aim to lower greenhouse emissions. Once that target is reached, they would set another target that would go beyond the previous one.

With Syria’s announcement, the United States is the last country in the world to not be part of the accord. Although The United States was one of the countries that had joined in the agreement, earlier this year, President Trump announced that the U. S. was withdrawing from the agreement. Trump explained that he wants a deal that is better for American taxpayers and businesses. The question is, with the United States being the only country in the world not part of the accord, should the United States rejoin the Paris Climate Accord?

Those who feel we should rejoin the accord believe that we have an obligation to do so as the world’s largest economy and second biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. They feel that climate change is real and, if we don’t do our part, then the attempt to reverse the rise in temperature will fail. Also, they feel the withdrawal from the accord only further isolates the United States from the rest of the world and that is dangerous. Finally, many feel that by not taking part in the effort, we are losing our place as the leader of the free world.

People who don’t want America to rejoin the accord argue that it does nothing to actually help fight climate change. Some feel that there is no consequence for not following through on a country’s goals. There are also many out there that believe that being part of the accord will hurt American businesses and cost our country jobs. In addition, there are many people believe that climate change is a hoax driven by people with their own political agendas.

CBS News covered the consequences of leaving the Paris Accord:

The Issue

Should the United Stated rejoin the Paris Climate Accord? Should America be a leader in combating the effects of climate change? Conversely, is the accord a useless agreement that’s really just a waste of time?

In support of the U.S. rejoining the Paris Climate Accord

Those who feel America should rejoin the Paris Accord say that, as the world’s second biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States has an obligation to the world to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gases.

https://twitter.com/beveloper/status/927941359914364928

In opposition to the U.S. rejoining the Paris Climate Accord

People who do not want America to rejoin the accord say that climate change is a hoax. They feel that, if we did the things the accord requires, we would do great damage to American business.

Do you think we should rejoin the Paris Climate Accord?

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