NEW YORK (AP) — While some leaders are facing the danger of rising sea levels that threaten their homes, others are witnessing their citizens suffer due to floods, hurricanes, and heat waves intensified by climate change.
However, the vision of the world that U.S. President Donald Trump presented in his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday diverged sharply from the realities faced by many leaders present, as well as from the observations made by scientists.
“This ‘climate change,’ it’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” Trump stated. He claimed that predictions made by the United Nations and others were incorrect and made by “stupid people” causing countries to waste resources and hinder their success. He warned that without abandoning what he termed a green scam, nations would fail economically.
Trump has consistently criticized climate science and initiatives aimed at transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind and solar. His recent speech was among his most detailed, featuring inaccuracies and unsupported connections.
Ilana Seid, an ambassador from Palau, remarked that such rhetoric from Trump is expected. She emphasized that failing to address climate change would betray vulnerable populations, a sentiment echoed by Malawi’s Evans Davie Njewa, who expressed concerns for innocent lives.
Adelle Thomas, a climate scientist from the Bahamas and a vice chair at the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, voiced the stark reality of climate disasters. Having experienced the impacts of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, she noted, “Millions of people around the world can already testify to the devastation that climate change has brought to their lives.”
On Renewable Energy
WHAT HE SAID: Trump referred to renewable energy sources like wind power as “a joke” and “pathetic,” wrongly asserting they are ineffective and costly.
THE BACKSTORY: According to a United Nations report, solar and wind energy are frequently the least expensive options for new electricity generation. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) also confirmed that onshore wind, solar, and new hydropower were among the cheapest global electricity sources last year.
On International Climate Politics
WHAT HE SAID: Trump criticized the U.N.’s climate initiatives, claiming he withdrew the U.S. from the “fake” Paris climate accord due to unequal contributions.
THE BACKSTORY: The Paris Agreement, established in 2015 through international consensus, requires countries to set voluntary goals to reduce emissions. The U.S. has historically been the largest contributor to human-caused carbon dioxide, despite China’s current status as the top carbon polluter.
On Coal
WHAT HE SAID: Trump insisted on using terms like “clean, beautiful coal” while expressing a preference against the word “coal.”
THE BACKSTORY: Despite Trump’s rhetoric, coal is linked to millions of deaths annually. Experts argue that pretending coal is clean is harmful, while emphasizing the science linking human activity to climate change is well-established and widely accepted.
