Trump says climate change not a hoax, but denies lasting impact – “It’ll change back”

Desdemona Despair

By Emily Holden
15 October 2018

(The Guardian) – Donald Trump has reiterated his doubts about climate change, suggesting that the climate could “change back again,” and that climate scientists are politically motivated.

The US president has long questioned man-made global warming. In an interview with CBS programme 60 Minutes that aired Sunday night, he said that he no longer believes climate change is a hoax, as he tweeted in 2012.

“I think something’s happening. Something’s changing and it’ll change back again,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a hoax. I think there’s probably a difference. But I don’t know that it’s manmade. I will say this: I don’t want to give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don’t want to lose millions and millions of jobs.”

The White House has previously declined to clarify Trump’s position. He tweeted in 2017 during a cold snap that “perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming.”

Trump has said he will withdraw the US from the Paris agreement, an international pact to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, cars and industry. His administration is seeking to roll back all of the country’s significant climate efforts.

The president’s comments come as the record-breaking Hurricane Michael flattened communities in Florida and barely a week after an international coalition of scientists warned that it will be incredibly difficult to avoid the intensified heat waves, flooding and extreme storms that will come with higher temperatures caused by humans.

Climate scientists say hurricanes are likely to grow stronger in warming oceans.

Asked about that, Trump said “you’d have to show me the scientists because they have a very big political agenda.”

As for melting ice caps and rising seas, Trump said “you don’t know whether or not that would have happened with or without Man.” [more]

‘It’ll change back’: Trump says climate change not a hoax, but denies lasting impact