Scientists wait to see how new U.S.

president
deals with climate agreement
By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff
11.11.16
Word Count 608

Environmental activists hold a banner during a protest of President-elect Donald Trump at the Climate
Conference, known as COP22, in Marrakech, Morocco, November 9, 2016. Photo: AP Photo/Mosa'ab
Elshamy

MARRAKECH, Morocco Climate scientists and environmental activists are alarmed that Donald
Trump was elected as the next U.S. president. The activists are people who fight against climate
change. Climate change includes the harmful effect that humans have on the Earth, like driving cars,
littering and drilling for gasses.
Trump denies that global warming exists. Global warming, one example of climate change, means that
temperatures are increasing around the world. This can be very harmful to the planet.
Scientists are troubled by Trump's election win. He has not promised to help save the environment.
Before being elected, Trump promised to undo President Barack Obama's environmental programs.
Some scientists warned that with Trump as president, global warming will worsen.

100 Countries Reached An Agreement

People are asking if the United States will still continue with an international climate deal, the Paris
Agreement. World leaders came together in Paris last year to fight climate change.
Climate talks are going on in Morocco this month. Many people said that without a U.S. president
fighting climate change, the rest of the world must do so. Others hope that Trump will change his
opinion and keep the promises that the United States made in the Paris Agreement.
More than 100 countries, including the United States, met in Paris last year. One goal they agreed
upon was to decrease the amount of gasses released into the atmosphere that are harmful to the planet.
The deal also hopes to help countries adapt to dangerous changes from global warming. For example,

as temperatures rise, ice in the Arctic and Antarctic melt. This causes rising sea levels and floods in
certain countries.

Disaster For The Planet

Some said that the rest of the world will continue to fight without the help of the United States.
Others called Trump's election a disaster for the planet. Environmental expert Dana Fisher said that the
Paris Agreement and future U.S. help in climate progress is over.
The United States declined to join a climate deal 20 years ago. Without the United States, the results
were not very successful. But when President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, he promised to fight
for climate change. He helped the Paris Agreement come together last December.
However, Trump said in May that he would not honor the Paris deal.
The deal's goal is to stop the rise in global temperatures. One climate scientist said that without U.S.
involvement, the success of the Paris Agreement would not be likely. He warned that it would be
impossible to stop the increasing temperatures without the help of the United States.

Some Scientists Are Hopeful

Trump promised to end President Obama's programs that fight climate change. He wants to allow the
use of coal, oil and natural gas. All of these increase global warming.
The American Energy Alliance supports the use of these fuels. This group said Trump's victory could
benefit the United States. However, shocked American activists do not agree. They cried and hugged
at the climate talks in Morocco when they heard the election results.
U.S. withdrawal from the deal would take four years. However, Trump could also decide to ignore
pledges made by Obama last year. Countries that do not keep their promises are not punished.
Glen Peters is a scientist from Norway. He said that the United States might not work to stop climate
change under a Trump presidency. If that happens, then the rest of the world will not do much either.
There is a small number of scientists who do not believe global warming is a serious danger. They are
hopeful after Trump's win.
"The danger just isn't there," scientist John Christy said.

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