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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 24 april 2017

Bloomberg to world leaders: Ignore Trump on climate

STEVE PEOPLES Hillary Clinton’s presiden-
Associated Press tial bid last year and fueled
NEW YORK (AP) — New York criticism from Trump and
billionaire Michael Bloom- other top Republicans that
berg urged world leaders Democrats were engaged
not to follow President Don- in a “war on coal.”
ald Trump’s lead on climate Bloomberg offered a prag-
change and declared his matic approach when
intention to help save an asked about the political
international agreement to consequences for politi-
reduce carbon emissions. cians who embrace such a
Bloomberg, who consid- stance.
ered a presidential bid af- “The fact is, coal in Appala-
ter serving three terms as chia is running out,” he said,
New York City’s mayor, ad- adding that “Washington
dressed his intensifying fo- can’t put generations of
cus on climate change in people back to work in a
an interview with The Asso- dying industry.”
ciated Press. He said there Saying that coal min-
was no political motive tied ers “have paid a terrible
to last week’s release of In this Wednesday, July 27, 2016, file photo, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg price,” Bloomberg also
his new book, “Climate of speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Hope: How Cities, Business- Associated Press disclosed for the first time
es, and Citizens Can Save be a reduction of about 1.6 est policy debates, having He noted that policies he plans to donate $3 million
the Planet,” co-authored billion tons. invested millions of dollars helped initiate in New York to organizations that help
by former Sierra Club ex- Bloomberg said he be- in one advocacy group City — including a smoking unemployed miners and
ecutive director Carl Pope. lieved the U.S. would hit that pushes for stronger ban and high taxes on sug- their communities find new
“I’m not running for office,” that goal regardless of gun control and another ary drinks — have eventu- economic opportunities.
the 75-year-old Bloomberg what Trump does because that promotes liberal immi- ally caught on elsewhere. Bloomberg Philanthropies
said. of leadership at the state gration policies. In the new “My goal has been to save highlights the plight of coal
Instead of helping to re-ig- level and market forces al- book, which follows what a and improve lives,” he said. miners in a new film to be
nite his political career, he ready at play in the private spokeswoman described “Some ways of doing that featured at the Tribeca Film
said the new book offered sector. as $80 million in donations can be controversial at first, Festival on Wednesday.
a specific policy objective: “Washington won’t deter- to the Sierra Club in recent but end up being highly He avoided condemning
To help save an internation- mine the fate of our ability years, the New York busi- popular and successful.” the Trump administration
al agreement, negotiated to meet our Paris commit- nessman solidifies his sta- In his new focus on climate directly, however, largely
in Paris, to reduce global ment,” he said in an email tus as a prominent climate change, Bloomberg directs casting the new president’s
carbon emissions. Saturday to the AP. “And change advocate as well. particularly aggressive lan- steps on climate change as
The Trump administration what a tragedy it would be His policy repertoire aligns guage at the coal industry. irrelevant. The White House
is debating whether to if the failure to understand him with core values of “I don’t have much sym- declined to comment
abandon the pact as the that led to an unraveling of the Democratic Party, al- pathy for industries whose when asked about Bloom-
president promised dur- the agreement. We hope though the Democrat- products leave behind a berg’s statements.
ing his campaign. Under this book will help to cor- turned-Republican-turned trail of diseased and dead “As it turns out, Trump’s
the agreement, the U.S. rect that wrong impression independent has no formal bodies,” he wrote in the election makes the book’s
pledged that by 2025 it — and help save the Paris political affiliation. book. He added: “But for message — that the most
would reduce its annual deal.” In the interview, Bloomberg everyone’s sake, we should important solutions lie out-
greenhouse gas emissions Bloomberg already plays a shrugged off conservatives aim to put them out of busi- side of Washington — even
by 26 to 28 percent below significant role in shaping who condemn him as a pa- ness...” more important and ur-
2005 levels, which would
some of the nation’s fierc- ternalistic New York elitist. Similar language haunted gent,” Bloomberg said.q