Former Vice President Al Gore has jumped immediately into the climate fray following Donald Trump’s historic election on Tuesday with a statement released yesterday on his Climate Reality website. He writes, “Our collective efforts are dependent not on politics or ideology — or elections — but on our commitment to each other, to the health of our planet and to a sustainable future for all.”
He asked people not to give up hope and he was “optimistic” they would solve the climate crisis. Trump’s election was a huge setback for Big Green and climate doomsters, who view the election's outcome as sounding the death knell for planet Earth.
Anti-fossil fuel groups are already threatening to sue the Trump administration.
“Last night, President-elect Trump said he wanted to be a president for all Americans. In that spirit,” Gore wrote, “I hope that he will work with the overwhelming majority” of people who think climate change is the “greatest threat we face as a nation.” Unfortunately, most people believe the economy is in jeopardy, and not the climate. That’s according to polls done by Gallup, Pew Research, and the United Nations.
Al Gore: "The Road Forward". A sustainable future is in sight but we cannot take it for granted. We must fight for the future we believe in. pic.twitter.com/16HcuYTrew
— off-beat (@off_mybeat) November 10, 2016
Energy stocks riding high
Trump said throughout his campaign that he would “scrap” any environmental regulations that harmed economic growth or slashed jobs.
He also said he would work to save the coal industry using carbon-scrubbing technology and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Many believe Hillary Clinton lost the election because blue-collar rural voters turned out in droves to vote for the energy-friendly Trump. Coal and other stocks rebounded to their highest levels in history yesterday.
Coal Stocks Boom On News Of Trump Victory | The Daily Caller https://t.co/udHTfuELNl
— Joe FreedomLover (@JoeFreedomLove) November 9, 2016
Throughout his campaign, Trump said he would abandon or renegotiate the Paris Climate Agreement, a non-binding accord to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and signed by nearly 200 nations. But the single largest complaint Trump heard while campaigning was how the Obama administration has rolled out hundreds of thousands of government regulations that hamper economic growth and stifle business.
Obama Finalized $100 BILLION Worth Of New Regulations This Year https://t.co/ECHjY9pldc pic.twitter.com/fRdrdWbLTg
— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 29, 2016
Gore wrote of the Paris climate accord: “We knew this work would not be easy—indeed, more would be required.” The U.S. trails behind China in greenhouse gas emissions. China is also exempt from the climate accord until 2030 and has already ramped up coal-fired power plant production. But because of fracking, many power plants are turning to cheap and plentiful natural gas, which has helped the U.S. inadvertently reach some of its climate goals.
America’s enviable energy landscape
Gore also wrote, “The market forces driving the transition to a sustainable economy” can’t be slowed down.
He also added that despite last night’s outcome, “we must turn our focus to making the promises of the Paris Agreement a reality by embracing the forces that are already working to grow our economy and transform our energy future.” Unlike America’s much-touted energy landscape, renewables have turned Europe’s energy system into a nightmare of unstable power and exorbitant electricity costs.
Lessons we should learn: free markets trump mandates. “Lessons From Europe: The Recipe For A High Cost Energy System” http://t.co/Hx52aCmgW4
— Prosper (@ProsperOrg) June 2, 2015
End-of-days redux
Currently, the U.S. contributes to roughly 13 percent of all man-made greenhouse gases, and Gore believes that by pulling out of the accord, we would be hurling the Earth toward imminent doom.
Gore has been preaching about the planet’s demise for nearly a decade and none of his predictions have come true. He even got involved in the 2016 election and stumped for Hillary to help get the much-sought-after millennial vote.
Gore and Clinton Hold a Wonkfest https://t.co/KWZo7nClav
— Jeff Klinkenberg (@JeffKlinkenberg) October 12, 2016
Gore said that because of the #2016 election results, people must redouble their efforts. He said everyone should focus their efforts on “making the promises of the Paris Agreement a reality” by “embracing the forces that are already working to grow our economy and transform our energy future.” He said a “sustainable future is in sight” but time is running out, and the planet needs its inhabitants to save it from certain doom.