Reversing all of Donald Trump’s despicable policies is going to take much time. May be more than one presidential term. But there is hope (“US rejoins fight against climate change at high level summit,” Jan. 25, Gulf Today).

President Biden’s first decisions after assuming office was to get the nation back into the Paris Climate Agreement and re-commit to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Former US President Trump formally pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord in November last year, claiming it “was designed to kill the American economy” rather than save the environment.

The Biden administration has ambitious plans on environment and concrete measures that could put American back on track to meeting emission reduction targets as mandated in the Paris Pact. He plans to make the US a net zero carbon economy by 2020 by installing an emissions-free electric grid by 2035.

The US plays a crucial role in the WHO as it contributes around 16 per cent of its budget, and so a withdrawal would have greatly hampered its global functioning. Biden is sending strong positive signals in his first few days in office

Caroll Smith
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