Former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich claims, erroneously, that poor nations “get crushed” by deals like Paris climate accord

Desdemona Despair

By Max Greenwood
28 May 2017

(The Hill) – Former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) argued on Sunday that international agreements such as the Paris climate deal ultimately harm developing countries that cannot afford to implement environmental regulations.

“The working poor and the very poor on the planet get crushed by these kind of agreements,” Gingrich said on Fox & Friends. “So I am for more economic growth. Wealthier countries are better for the environment, poorer countries inevitably are harder for the environment.”

The Paris accord commits both wealthy and poor countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fighting the effects of climate change.

The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, like the U.S., China, and Europe, pledged in 2015 to limit the global temperature rise over the next 50 years to 3 degrees Celsius.

In fact, many of the world’s poorest countries have been among the strongest advocates for the Paris climate deal, because they are considered particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change.

Leaders from some of the least-developed countries have argued that the pledge isn’t enough and that they must commit to limiting the temperature rise to only 1.5 degrees Celsius.

President Trump refused on Saturday to join fellow Group of Seven leaders in a pledge of support for the 195-nation climate agreement. He tweeted Saturday morning that he has not yet decided whether he will keep the U.S. in the deal and that a decision would be made this week.[more]

Gingrich: The poor ‘get crushed’ by deals like Paris climate accord