Paris climate deal: US tells diplomats to dodge foreign officials' questions

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Paris climate deal: US tells diplomats to dodge foreign officials' questions

Reuters in Washington
Tuesday 8 August 2017 21.07 BST

US diplomats should sidestep questions from foreign governments on what it would take for the Trump administration to re-engage in the global Paris climate agreement, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Reuters.

The cable, sent by the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, to embassies on Friday, also said diplomats should make clear the United States wants to help other countries use fossil fuels.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s announcement in June that the United States would withdraw from the accord, the cable tells diplomats to expect foreign government representatives to ask questions like: “Does the United States have a climate change policy?” and “Is the administration advocating the use of fossil fuels over renewable energy?“

If asked, for example, “What is the process for consideration of re-engagement in the Paris Agreement?,” the answer should be vague: “We are considering a number of factors. I do not have any information to share on the nature or timing of the process,” the cable advises.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/aug/08/paris-climate-deal-rex-tillerson-us-diplomats

[procon]

1. Weasel words.

Why is Trump so timid about his endorsement of fossil fuel polluters? If that's his policy, if he thinks the US consumers and the whole world needs to use more fossil fuels, then he should be shouting it from the rooftops. Since he's not, the issue must not be based on science facts, but on money, specifically the money that ends up in the pockets of Republicans.