Scientists broadly agree that climate change is a real thing and that human activity contributes towards it.
But what scientists agree on, and the message the public get is quite different and this is because the middle men are politicians and business men, who have found an opportunity to make money. A lot of money.
We need to transition from fossil fuels to renewables, however there is disagreement on the speed that we have to do this. Not all scientists agree that we have to stop gas entirely and in essence make ourselves poor.
Here in the UK we have Ed Milliband advising Ed Milliband that we need to push harder and faster, and all be cold and poor. Meanwhile Ed will make money, men who are in the renewables business will thank Ed very very much, and the fossil fuel guys will be paid off handsomely. We will be told that we are all better people for it.
Scientists are not in agreement that this is the only way. Especially in the UK where we make so little difference. We aren’t even influencing bigger more polluting countries.
So Trump is deciding to put the economy first. He’s decided that the people want cheaper gas, cheaper energy, better lives, more money in their pockets. The majority of businesses want cheaper energy, less outgoing, more profit. People want to thrive again after a number of very hard years.
The world cannot stop using gas yet. The world needs oil. Here in the UK we’ve chosen not to produce our own energy, as this makes those aforementioned people richer. But we need gas. So we import it. Which is arguably worse as that has also has a massive carbon footprint. But we’re led to believe that’s better (for Ed).
Donald Trump knows America will need gas. And someone has to produce it for them to buy from. He’s decided to produce their own rather than destroy the economy and make people poorer, by importing what they need.
Personally, I think this is a sensible idea that has got him voted in as the 47th president.
Finally, will this impact on the whole world and climate change? Yes. Because people abroad are going to ask why we need to be poorer, and why we need to buy our fuel from America? People will vote for people who want to put the people first. The climate change plan will become less at the forefront of concerns.
I’m traditionally a conservative voter living in Wales. I will be voting for Reform in a couple of years, because I have decided I’m fed up of struggling and I hope that with values more aligned with the Republican Party, they may be that chance of living a few years of my life more comfortably. I’m just not rich enough, or middle class enough to be able to afford climate change.