What Doesn’t Kill Us does not make Us Stronger – The Good Men Project (blog)

Last Thursday afternoon President Trump walked into the Rose Garden and told the American public were getting out of the Paris Climate Agreement. The spectacle, classically Trump, came after days of leaks saturated cable punditry with speculation and preemptive partisan squabbling. The amateurish administration watched as Twitter shifted its short attention span from Trumps most recent harmless error #covfefe to his next tragic mistake.

Trumps decision is undoubtedly tragic. The Paris Agreement represents an incredible achievement for global governance and the green energy movement. The pact, joined by nearly 200 countries, sets ambitious emission targets designed to curb global temperature increases to a manageable 2 Celsius. The United States, the worlds second largest polluter, emits 18% of the worlds carbon. We now join Syria (entrenched in a deadly Civil War) and Nicaragua (a green energy stalwart who held out for a greener deal) in a small and informidable group of dissenters.

The decision to leave the Paris Agreement is the most potent example of Trumps jingoistic America First foreign policy doctrine to date and may be the most damaging to Americas status as the worlds lone superpower. Angela Merkel has clearly moved on, speaking to German voters after Trumps romp through Europe she warned, the time that we can rely on others is a bit in the past. Europes strongest leader has already shifted her focus to China calling the quasi-communist nation an important and strategic partner.

Americas self-imposed solitude will have real consequences we have lost our seat at the table as the world begins to rebuild its energy infrastructure.

But Trumps decision to withdrawal is also a reflection of a new American ethic in the era of Trump.America is no longer a reliable ally in global governance. In Trumps White House, diplomacy and collective action are for suckers or at least elitist liberals who watch MSNBC. Trump is not content with isolation, but is imposing his own nihilism on the world through American foreign policy. His lieutenants primed the pump for a Paris withdrawal earlier this week in the Wall Street Journal articulating the administrations depressing world view. The world is not a global community but an arena where nations, non-governmental actors, and businesses engage and compete for advantage. If this is true, then Trump has made clear the United States has, at least temporarily, changed teams.

My mother used to tell me when I was a kid, show me who your friends are and Ill show you your future. Right now, Americas future looks bleak. The U.S withdrawal has already ostracized America from its most important allies. The President of the European Union, Jean-Claude Juncker, unabashedly denounced Trumps decision and added that Europe would not act as vassals of the Americans. Berlin added this morning, U.S. climate move cant and wont stop those of us who feel obliged to protect the planet. Meanwhile, in the first year of Trumps presidency hes invited Rodrigo Duterte to the White House, was silent when Erdogans thugs attacked protesters in the nations capital, and of course his association with Putin is well documented despite the Presidents best efforts.

After years of conservatives lambasting President Obama for leading from behind, Trump has abdicated Americas role on the world stage. Americas self-imposed solitude will have real consequences we have lost our seat at the table as the world begins to rebuild its energy infrastructure. Beijing will certainly be happy to fill the void left by Americas ill-fated decision and is well positioned to do so. China has invested billions to complete their One Belt, One Road initiative,building partnerships with Europe and building the developing worlds infrastructure to receive Chinese products. Trump, the ultimate deal maker, just missed out.

Originally posted here:

What Doesn't Kill Us does not make Us Stronger - The Good Men Project (blog)