Tuesday, March 21, 2017

US Budget Broadside on Climate Change

Donald Trump’s proposed budget for next year would devastate science programs aimed at combating the impacts of climate change.

Donald Trump’s spending plans underline his lack of concern on climate change issues. (Image Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr) Click to Enlarge.
If anything, it’s worse than expected:  sweeping cutbacks to environmental programs; an abandonment of efforts aimed at cleaning up air and water pollution around the US; and, most worrying for the world in general, an end to multimillion-dollar funding for satellite launches and other science projects aimed at tackling climate change.

The direction of environmental policy under President Trump – who in the past has described climate change science as “a hoax” and programmes to combat a warming world as “bullshit” – seems clear.  The new administration is determined to scupper any action aimed at tackling global warming.

‘Waste of your money’
“As to climate change, I think the president is fairly straightforward – we’re not spending money on that any more,” says Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s budget director.  “We consider that to be a waste of your money.”

The proposed budget for 2018, announced by officials in Washington at the end of last week, aims to cut spending by more than 30% at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the main state body monitoring environmental and climate change issues.  Staff at the EPA will be reduced by 19%, the biggest cut to any government department.

US Budget Broadside on Climate Change

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