Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
Yesterday in an interview with the Washington Post, Donald Trump doubled down on his climate denial, dismissing the National Climate Assessment recently released by his own government and denying man-made climate change.
On climate Trump said, “One of the problems that a lot of people like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we’re not necessarily such believers.” He added, “As to whether or not it’s man-made and whether or not the effects that you’re talking about are there, I don’t see it.”
However, Trump is working to protect his international properties from the consequences of climate change. In 2017, Trump’s golf course in Scotland was granted permits to build two sea walls to protect the course from rising sea levels due to climate disruption.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
"We cannot afford a leader who sticks his head in the sand while people suffer the consequences. The climate assessment, put forth by Donald Trump’s own administration, makes it clearer than ever that if we don’t act now, the catastrophic effects of climate change will reshape the United States and the world to the detriment of those alive today, and for generations to come.
“Trump is ignoring the alarm bells to protect our country from climate change, yet at the same time he is building seawalls in Scotland to protect his golf course from the rising sea. Trump clearly understands the economic threat of climate disruption, at least as when it comes to his own pocketbook, but he just doesn’t care enough to protect the American people. Trump needs to pull his head out of his sand trap right now because the climate won’t give us a mulligan.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.