Trump policies drive U.S. emissions rise, scientists say

President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the main international climate treaty, seized Venezuelan crude oil and taken steps to revive domestic coal while restricting clean energy, moves scientists said are likely making global warming worse. After Mr. Trump returned to office, America’s greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil and gas rose 1.9 percent, according to the federal government; researchers attributed the increase to greater use of coal after years of decline since 2007.

Scientists noted the rise comes after one of the hottest years on record, which they said helped supercharge wildfires in Los Angeles, deadly flooding in Texas and a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean. The planet is on course to warm more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the Earth has already warmed between 1.3 and 1.4 degrees Celsius, the article said.

The administration has forced five coal-fired power plants to keep operating, halted five partially built offshore wind farms, rolled back regulations to reduce greenhouse gases, cut federal subsidies for renewable energy and removed incentives for electric vehicles, while adopting policies that make it easier to produce and burn oil, gas and coal.

Officials argued that investment in clean energy hurts the United States; Energy Secretary Chris Wright said clean sources "don’t produce enough energy and don’t reduce emissions," calling them "the greatest malinvestment in human history." Scientists quoted included Justin S.

Key Topics

Politics, Donald Trump, Venezuelan Crude, Coal Industry, Offshore Wind, Greenhouse Gases