On a case-by-case basis, I analyze team Trump and Musk actions. Put this one solidly in the plus column.
Pledge Canceled
Please note the US Rescinds UN Climate Fund Pledges.
The US has canceled about $4bn in pledged money to the UN’s Green Climate Fund, the latest sign a sharp policy shift under President Donald Trump.
The State Department late last week said the US “has rescinded outstanding pledges to the Green Climate Fund,” but did not provide any further details.
The US under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama had pledged about $6bn combined to the GCF, with the most recent commitment announced at the Cop 28 climate talks in Dubai. But the two administrations were able to deliver only $2bn of the funding.
The cancellation of the GCF pledges is just the latest step by Trump to quickly reverse course for US climate and clean energy policies. Among his first acts after taking office last month Trump ordered the US to exit the Paris climate agreement and to pause spending on renewable energy projects. In addition, secretary of state Marco Rubio said the US would stop engaging in climate diplomacy.
“If pledges are not fully realized, our ability to support the climate ambitions of developing countries will be constrained,” the GCF said.
Boo-Hoo Version
For the boo-hoo version of this story, look to MSN Abandoning the UN Climate Pledge—Trump Makes the US a Global Outcast Again
In a move that shocked the international community, President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, a global accord aimed at combating climate change. S.
the only country to reject the widely supported climate pact, isolating it from the rest of the world. The Paris Agreement, signed by 195 countries in 2015, was a landmark in the fight against climate change.
It aimed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. S. [Mish note: something is missing here because this is exactly how the article looks with two consecutive incomplete sentences]
not only turned its back on a collective effort to address climate change but also abandoned its leadership role in this crucial global issue.
I believe that is supposed to say “The U.S. not only turned its back ….”
Boo-hoo. Spare me the sap. This was expected, not shocking, so what a ridiculous story.
Let’s get to the point.
Is this Legal?
You should know the answer because otherwise I would not be cheering. The US Senate never ratified the Paris Accord treaty.
President Obama signed the Paris Accord in 2015 despite the fact the US Senate never approved the treaty. But presidents have been sending money to these causes anyway.
President Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement during his first term.
President Joe Biden rejoined the agreement in 2021.
The correct view is that even if you support the idea, is the Senate needs to sign treaties.
Let’s Discuss USMCA
I am a legal sticker on these issues.
The US Senate ratified Trump’s USMCA deal 89-10. Trump called the deal “the best trade deal in US history”. It was not Trump’s authority to break USMCA.
It is a bad idea for US presidents to unilaterally sign treaties or break those that are signed. Period.
Trade War Details Emerge: 25 Percent Tariffs but Only 10 Percent on Oil
On February 1, I noted Trade War Details Emerge: 25 Percent Tariffs but Only 10 Percent on Oil
The U.S. notified Canada that it will be imposing a 25% tariff on all imports starting Tuesday, and a lower 10% tariff on Canadian oil and gas, Canadian officials said, as Mexico also braced Saturday for punitive duties from President Trump.
USMCA, TTs and TWS
Trump’s 25 percent tariff notification was in direct violation of USMCA.
Spare me the sap on Fentanyl or whatever TDS Type II rationale you want to use.
TTs (Trump Tantrums) are no excuse to break treaties. I invented the TTs acronym while writing this post.
Today, I came across a new acronym (author unknown) that I also endorse – Trump Worship Syndrome (TWS). It is the same as the TDS Type II acronym that invented.
Trump Backs Down
On February 3, I wrote Mexico Tariffs on Hold After Border Agreement on Fentanyl and Guns
My subtitle was “Who backed down? Trump or Mexico? It’s really both. And it’s an illusion Trump gained anything.”
I originally had a title of Trump blinks, but decided what really happened is common sense prevailed.
The Wall Street Journal concluded what I did. My words were “It’s an illusion Trump gained anything.”
“Trump Blinks on North American Tariffs” Agree or Disagree?
Also on February 3, I asked “Trump Blinks on North American Tariffs” Agree or Disagree?
The correct answer is yes, temporarily.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is 100 percent spot on in her assessment “We had a trade agreement and that was the best tool to continue competing against China.”
She made her point, but did so in a way that allowed Trump (and her) to save face.
Major Trade War Escalation
On February, 7 I reported Trump Announces Reciprocal Tariffs Next Week, a Major Trade War Escalation
Today we learned Trump to Impose 25 Percent Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum, Expect Higher Prices
All US consumers of steel and aluminum will pay higher prices, especially the automakers.
The most important point is those tariffs break USMCA.
Trump no more cares about legalities and treaties than Biden or Obama. Hypocrites cheer.
But Trump is on the right side of the law today, ending climate pledges. I cheer this, not that.
Meanwhile, I find it amusing that I am frequently accused of TDS by those that have TWS. Very few people are willing to look at the economic and legal cases of what either party does.
The great “defenders of democracy” had no problem with assenting to the Paris Accord without senate approval.
You probably get accused of Trump whatever syndrome because you keep talking about him as a person and not his policies and you continue to make disparaging and insulting remarks about the people who voted for him. You’re just getting a reaction to your vitriol. Try remaining objective and professional and you may see different reactions.
Anyone that is interested in climate change can start with one small thing. Stop buying bottled water. People piss and moan about climate change but what does each person personally do to help it. I’m amazed at all the people that don’t even recycle.
Maybe the greedy corporations could “Stop Selling” it as such. Maybe a more expensive, but less profitable cardboard container that melts into the dirt?
What sounds better “Weather Patterns” OR “Climate Change”? Which would you sign up for? They both do the exact same thing, but one draws money as the “Catch Phrase” is so much better!
So most pick the “Feel Good” phrase and think there doing something good, but just being paraded down a useless path of tossing your money to somebody else, to do what they were doing already, which is nothing. This sounds good to the School, Clubs, Brainwashed kids, and so many more.
In the end nothing changes but the pattern of weather, which is done by an act of God. I know, I know, some want to play God, with your money, but it’s futile BS to pull coins from your pocket, and absolutely “Nothing Else” by Them!!!
Markets are not driven by sellers – they follow. You can push all you like but if your product doesn’t deliver (perceived) value, no one buys it. This is why your government has to subsidize stuff – usually giving your money to people who could easily afford the product (eg. EVs) but don’t see the value at the market price. When the public see the value, they change. Presently, we generally don’t accept the value proposition related to climate change.
Presently, we generally don’t accept the value proposition related to climate change.
How can one possibly accept the lies from these hypocrites? I will start believing in them, when they believe it themselves, and then I know the money WILL make a difference.
Until then, and I also can see laws “Restricting Flights” for Civilian aircraft. “Restricting Size” for Housing for Civilians. “Restricting Size” of Boats/Yachts for Civilian Use.
There are many, many more ways to “Help The Climate” if You Truly want to… without spending a dime!
I’ve had it with the 2nd grade level discussion about science here. “Oh look it is snowing in Texas what about global warming? *smirk* “The bible says Earth was created in six days not 4 billion years.” Just moronic. And then everyone pretends to have an enlightened discussion about GDP and U1. Can’t be ignorant about one thing and smart about something else. Bye now.
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If you don’t believe in climate change, what about all the pollution and destruction of the environment? Man can only push nature so far until nature that allows human existence to exist, does not. All those thinking otherwise only care about making more money at the expense of others living on the planet.
Why defend short-term gains only to have nothing in the future that resembles anything of a natural existence?
All these so-called DOGE savings add up to nothing. This administration will spend more than any other before. All show and no go.
People do, I do, in “Weather Patterns” and we take care of the planet by being smart.think of some of the things “People (P) Don’t Do” Compared to What Corporations (C) Do, Do!
C – Produce Plastics
P – Don’t
C – Produce Toxins
P – Don’t
C – Produce solar Panels
P – Don’t
C – Produce So Many Non-Degradable Items that cause the waste!
If they didn’t produce them, we couldn’t buy them, and if we couldn’t buy them, they would turn into waste that’s Harming the Planet! If that dint occur maybe we could cut down on waste, and maybe “Climate Change” OR “Weather Patterns” wouldn’t need to be talked about, and therefore no more wasteful spending on such!
We would have a much cleaner a Planet, more money to but food (biodegradable) and other things needed a whole lot more than playing God with peoples money, BUT only after they take 50% for themselves or more…
In what world do you live?
A sane one
A few scholars have come out of the woodwork to debunk the climate change hoax. They know their federal research grants won’t be denied or cancelled. Climatologist propagandists are not so lucky.
Just like the few scholars who claimed that smoking was good for you? Did these scholars also claim that the earth is flat?
You probably think every white coat you see in a TV commercial is a doctor not an actor.
Damn, I thought so too! You know what this means? We obviously have a massive shortage of doctors, because we just lost hundreds from our TV Pool of them. Damn It!
Don’t “Leave Out” the Actual Doctors. They told Us, as they were smoking, that everything is A OK
4 billion out of 2.8 trillion in deficit = .142%. All we have to do is find this much savings every day, and we can halve the deficit by the end of the year!
Well, theoretically…. we’re already a bit behind…
It will catch up fast, once we get past the bogus lawsuits, and BS that’s going on…
Did you know the Trudeau government in Canada has pledged to completely eliminate the Oil & Gas business over the next some years (I think it’s 20)? This may be the real reason for the tariffs and the 51st state talk. Trump might be seeing if he can break Alberta free from Canada, hopefully by causing another constitutional crises with Quebec.
Background to consider: Canada has the world’s 3rd largest petroleum reserves, the US is in 5th. Ever since the 70’s oil shocks the US government has considered the Canadian oil reserves to be of strategic national importance. The real issue may be that the Canadian government can no longer be trusted to steward these resources.
More background: Quebec didn’t get their 50%+1 for separation in the 90’s, but there is a good chance Alberta would. Most Albertans feel their treatment under confederation has been very disadvantageous financially. With the mess Trudeau has left Canada in just 9 years, Trump may be thinking now is the time to shake the tree and see what falls out. Alberta would be a far bigger win than Greenland, and would also allow for a pretty northern air force and missile defense location.
I do not care what the reason
Trump had no business breaking USMCA
Nope. Trudeau never pledged to eliminate oil and gas. He pledged to lower emissions from oil and gas by 42%. Which is why a group of the largest Canadian oil and gas companies is trying to develop a group CCS system.
He certainly was not a friend of the oil and gas industry in Canada. But soon the Conservatives will be in power and they are pro oil and gas.
Depending on the source; Canada has the third or fourth largest oil reserves; while the US is ninth, tenth, or eleventh.
I agree that Trump is serious about wanting Canada. But according to a recent poll not very many Canadians are interested in becoming part of the US. Including Albertans.
https://dailyhive.com/canada/alberta-poll-canada-join-united-states#google_vignette
Mike, You mean stickler. Add that ‘l’. “I am a legal sticker on these issues.”
Grab em by the … TTs?
This is really encouraging. In terms of Trump following through on promises and on the rationality of those making decisions now.
It’s becoming more evident with time what a grift the GW movement is. The Plandemic elucidated the putrefied state of politically funded “science.”
Not sure if this is the money to repay island nations for sea level change.
Of course anyone who knows anything about geological history knows that in just the last 12000 to 15000 years sea level has risen more than 400 feet already (and yeah you can go look that up at NOAA and NASAs websites, and they are led by climate change people) in the interglacial period, of the series of ice ages that began 2.4 or so million years ago prior to which there were no polar bears (had not evolved yet) and almost no arctic ice and there was a forest ecosystem in northern Greenland
So these monies coming from US taxpayers are nothing but grift to be spent by island dictators on hookers blow and mercedes and so good riddance
“to be spent by island dictators on hookers blow and mercedes”
You are dating yourself.
These days, it’s hookers and blow and Tesla cyber trucks, all bought with crypto.
Yes. Everyone who knows anything about geological history is familiar with the fairly regular 100,000 year long Milankovitch cycles. Each cycle has roughly 80,000 to 90,000 years of cooling. During this 80,000 to 90,000 year period CO2 levels drop from 280 ppm to 180 ppm. We end up with a mile of ice over New York. And ocean levels drop around 120m.
The remainder of the cycle is the 10,000 to 20,000 year long warming period where CO2 levels rise from 180 ppm to 280 ppm. The ice melts over most areas except the poles, and ocean levels rise up by 120m again.
These 100,000 year cycle have repeated regularly, ten times over the last million years. Here is a link that shows those regular cycles.
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth107/node/1506#:~:text=The%20long%2Dterm%20rate%20of,stated%20as%201.2%20mm%2Fyear.
Of course, the question is where are we in these Milankovitch cycles today? Well the last warming period ended around 6000 years ago. We have been in a cooling period since then. Which means that CO2 levels should be dropping from 280 ppm towards 180 ppm over the next 80,000 -90,000 years. That’s about 1 ppm every 800 or 900 years on a linear scale. So based on historical norms, CO2 should have already dropped from 280 ppm to around 274 ppm over the last 6000 years. The planet should be slowly cooling. The ice should be growing and ocean levels should be dropping.
But CO2 levels have not dropped naturally as they normally do, and the planet has not been cooling. Something seems to have interrupted the natural cooling cycles. We know that CO2 levels have actually been increasing from 280 ppm, just 200 years ago, to over 420 ppm today. And we know by measuring the different isotopes of carbon, that all that extra CO2 is not natural, but from mankinds burning of fossil fuels.
So, after a million years of CO2 ranging from a low of 180 ppm towards a high of 280 ppm, we have now forced CO2 much higher.
When was the last time that CO2 was as high as 400 ppm? That would be 4-5 million years ago. Temperatures were several degrees warmer than today and sea levels were another 50 feet higher than today.
This is why island nations are concerned. Rather than oceans rising over periods of 10,000 years, which give life time to adapt, we are now locking in those increases in the next few hundred years.
low co2 is bad for plant life, we need it be higher.
There is no linear correlation between c02 in atmosphere and surface temperature, there are many,many variables.
its difficult to tell the weather a week in advance with some very sophisticated models.
predicting future climate with a single data point like co2 levels is more like religion than science.
but if you want to be a climate martyr, i can give you my greengofundme account to cleanse yourself of your sins of emission…
Lol! You should try to learn some science.
CO2 levels have ranged from 180 ppm towards 280 ppm for over a million years. The plants did just fine during all that time.
During the entire 10,000 years when mankind developed agriculture, CO2 levels were steady at 280 ppm (till they increased to 420 ppm over the last two hundred years). Our crops did fine at 280 ppm. And because of our successful crops human population exploded from 1 million people to 8 billion.
Of course there is a correlation between atmospheric CO2 and temperature. Science has known that for close to 200 years. Without CO2 and other greenhouse gasses, the average temperature on earth would be -18C and we wouldn’t be here.
Clearly you need to learn some science.
I like how people cling to the word “science” when speaking about the most scientifically unsound discipline that has nothing but computer models and fantastic predictions that never hold true. They publish studies with obvious mathematical errors and omit the data that doesn’t support their theories. If climate science is a science. So is astrology.
I’m starting a gofundme to get water wings to these folks!
Greenhouses keep the co2 levels near 1000 for ideal plant growth so we are well below that level. Since co2 makes up a minuscule 0.04% of the atmosphere, its effects are negligible when compared to water vapour. The science is garbage.
At least it’s not wasted.
lets really save money and get the real show goin
Cancel section 8 housing allowances and end the snap food stamp program
Give us a little warning so we can get out of the cities.
Every time the food stamp system goes down, it is a total shit show.
About 10-12 years ago, my wife walks into a regional superstore that competes with Walmart. Numerous grocery carts loaded to the brim with groceries, to include very expensive cuts of steak, abandoned near the entrance/exit. Well apparently the food stamp system went down.
The store decided to honor whatever the pushbutton plunder welfare queens wanted to buy with their food stamps. Word got out. All the baby mamas loaded up their 5 keedz by 5 different baby daddies and headed in.
Before some of these queens were able to check out, the system came back online. They abandoned their carts because they knew there was no way in hell they could “purchase”, aka plunder, that much food with however much they be gettin’ each month.
F*ck these parasites. If they cannot manage their lives well enough to afford groceries, they do not get to decide what goes in their cart. Give them a defined amount of food that consists of whatever is on the periphery of the grocery store – produce, meats, and dairy. No processed foods. No diabetes water, to include Purple Drank. If they don’t like it, tough shit.
And there is a rational basis for requiring these people to accept temporary sterilization as a condition of receiving benefits.
What happens to 740 Park Avenue in NYC if the residents of Harlem lose their housing vouchers and “food stamps”? My guess is that there would riots and arson on the Upper East Side of Manhattan?
BOOM! Riots and martial law! Reichstag fire in a weekend.
Most important point to consider about the Paris accords is that they were basically a blank sheet of paper handed out to each country. Western Europe and the US, wrote pledges on the paper that greatly sacrificed their economies, their costs, etc.. China, India, Pakistan, … wrote BS. All said that there carbon emissions et al would go UP for some period of time and then MIGHT level off. We should stay in the Paris accords and just change our entry to look like that of China. Then they couldn’t say we withdrew … even though it would be as meaningless as the “pledges” those countries made (to continue getting worse). The accords are/were a joke and being out of them is wise.
Agree – I also call them as I see them – no pennies -GREAT! Cancel the stupid Califronia Train to nowhere – GREAT! (even the local liberal rag said, “Mercy Killing”), Cancel Green agenda – GREAT! Gaza owning – don’t think so.
If the pennies are not 1982 or prior, they are not worth having in your pocket. I turn all my post-1982s in at the bank and put the pre-1982s in a bucket.
Curren melt value of a fity cent roll of pre-1982 pennies is $1.40.
Nickels are an even deeper value play, but at current prices a $2 roll of nickel is only worth $2.17.
Gresham’s Law in action.
I agree. I don’t think there will ever be a big demand for train trips between Fresno and Bakersfield.
A train to FRESNO of all places! Why would anybody go there?
Hmong folks love it there
Green new deal full of green backs … Oh no, the cashiers window is now closed!
At last time he ran on the quote “make America great” slogan and in this presidency he’s making it happen. I will admit I don’t like Trump, I don’t like who he is as a person, but I do think that clearly, especially given the steps that he has taken since he came into office, just a few weeks ago, he is clearly going to make America great again!
Bring back the Golden Age! Zero interest rates, Pre-forgiven PPP loans, and stimmy checks for all!
He will be fighting a natural period of downturn and chaos . When the folks vote in a candidate that has clearly stepped outside the box ,they are fearful
of the future ( mass anxiety ). Everyone knows we have overspent our credit card . They will always go to the right ,when they sense this . I’m thinking the left is toast till Vance’s second term ,if there is still a union .