Billionaire Michael Bloomberg advised world leaders not to follow President Trump's lead on climate change. He also expressed his willingness to help save an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions.
Bloomberg, who served as New York City's mayor for three years, and even considered a presidential bid, addressed his focus on climate change.
Bloomberg On Climate Change Policies
Bloomberg has recently published a new book, called "Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet". The book is co-authored by Carl Pope, former executive director of Sierra Club. Bloomberg noted that there is no political motive behind his new book and that he has no intentions to run for office.
Moreover, the billionaire added that the book follows a policy objective, which is to help save an international agreement, that's negotiated in Paris, regarding carbon emissions and the plan to reduce them. A number of 194 countries are signatories to the pact, and 143 have ratified the agreement.
While President Trump promised during his campaign that he would abandon the Paris agreement, his key advisers remain divided on the issue of climate change. Due to this situation, there is still a debate going on whether the pact shall remain in force or not.
"Senior officials will meet this week to discuss the options, with the goal of providing a recommendation to the President about the path forward," noted a senior White House official, April 17.
Among the voices that support the agreement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson argued that climate change needs a global response, during his confirmation hearing.
"I think it's important that the US maintain a seat at that table so that we can also judge the level of commitment of the other 189 or so countries that are around that table, and again, adjust our own course, accordingly," declared Tillerson.
Should the agreement remain in force, the United States should reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below the 2005 levels until 2025. In absolute numbers, this would mean a reduction of approximately 1.6 billion tons of emissions.
According to Bloomberg, the country's goal could be met regardless of the president's decision on this pact, mainly because of the involvement of the private sector and the state-level leadership.
"Washington won't determine the fate of our ability to meet our Paris commitment. And what a tragedy it would be if the failure to understand that led to an unraveling of the agreement. We hope this book will help to correct that wrong impression - and help save the Paris deal," noted Bloomberg.
Exiting The Paris Agreement
It isn't complicated for the president to exit the Paris agreement, as it is a non-binding accord that was never ratified by the Senate.
In its attempt to exit, the United States would evoke the Paris' formal withdrawal mechanism. Technically, this would take four years. The U.S. officials, however, could stop taking part in any future negotiations immediately after the withdrawal.
Another, more radical way for the country to exit the agreement would be for the president to pull out of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This option would only take one year instead of four, but it would mean that the country abandons all international efforts and actions on the matter of climate change.
