In a meeting with editors and reporters at the New York Times today, Donald Trump finally admitted that, well, okay, maybe—maybe!—human activity might have something to do with our ever-warming planet.
"I think there is some connectivity" between humans and climate change, Trump says.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
Does Trump think human activity is linked to climate change? “I think there is some connectivity. Some, something. It depends on how much."
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
He did not, however, appear to care all that much about preventing further destruction to Earth.
Tom Friedman asks if Trump will withdraw from climate change accords. Trump: “I’m looking at it very closely. I have an open mind to it."
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Instead, he took the opportunity to put capitalism first.
On climate change, Trump says he is also thinking about "how much it will cost our companies” & the effect on American competitiveness.
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Astoundingly, Trump’s admission actually represents somewhat of a step forward. He has painted himself as an ardent and consistent skeptic of climate change. Trump insisted in 2012:
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012
China, shockingly, disputes this.
Then again, Trump also wants to put a climate change denier in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s always 17 steps back and one millimeter forward with our dear president-elect!
