Events

[2020-11-13] America, we’ve missed you. Now please get your act together on climate change

By 2020년 11월 18일 No Comments
Source: Global Center on Adaptation

On November 13th 2020, Chairman Ban’s opinion with Patrick Verkooijen was released on CNN. It covered the urgent message many have wanted to tell the United States, which was to regroup their forces to combat climate change once again.

“The Trump administration’s dismissal of climate change has cost America dearly at home and abroad. Outside the US, President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement has encouraged other nations to ignore their own climate pledges. Domestically, Trump’s decision to silence climate scientists and gut environmental protection agencies has left the country ill-equipped to deal with the destruction wrought by climate change. That is why it is imperative that President-elect Biden makes reversing this a priority from day one.” The opinion stated.

In addition, Chairman Ban wrote on the COVID-19 pandemic. “If the ongoing pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the health of humans, the economy and our planet are deeply intertwined. Our overlapping health, economic and environmental crises are connected. They demand connected solutions. Biden’s plan is ambitious, but we urge him to go further. On the campaign trail, the Democratic candidate was equivocal about the future of fossil fuels. We urge him to end subsidies to the fossil fuel industry once and for all.” The opinion stated.

In conclusion, the opinion urged President-elect Biden to invest in adapting to climate change as well as curbing it “because millions of Americans are already living with the effects of global warming. Miami may be fighting for survival in the face of rising sea levels while Manhattan needs to be better prepared for the next Superstorm Sandy.”

If you would like to read the full opinion, please visit CNN’s website.