Donald Trump's decision to have the US pull out of the Paris Accord has angered international leaders, business executives, and lawmakers on both sides of the political divide. His decision and exit speech have been analyzed as showing his utter lack of disregard for the environment, his failure to grasp the realities of climate change, and his counter-productive "America first" policy. But it's important to keep in mind that there's one instance in which Trump cares deeply about climate change - when it stands to impact one of his golf courses. The following article from May 25, 2016, revealed quotes from an application for permission to build a coastal wall at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co. Clare. The main argument? Global warming.
What is Donald Trump’s stance on global warming? He’s previously described it as “a total hoax” and “pseudoscience” (because if it’s cold how can there be global warming) and “bullshit,” even arguing that it was “created by the Chinese” in a move to make the US manufacturing sector less competitive.
This very expensive GLOBAL WARMING bullshit has got to stop. Our planet is freezing, record low temps,and our GW scientists are stuck in ice
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2014
But it seems that the Donald doth contradict himself, as he recently filed a permit application to build a coastal wall at his golf course in Ireland, citing “global warming and its effects.”
Politico gained access to the application and reports: “The New York billionaire is applying for permission to erect a coastal protection works to prevent erosion at his seaside golf resort, Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Ireland, in Doonbeg, County Clare.
“A permit application for the wall, filed by Trump International Golf Links Ireland and reviewed by POLITICO, explicitly cites global warming and its consequences – increased erosion due to rising sea levels and extreme weather this century – as a chief justification for building the structure.”
So global warming exists, but just in Ireland?
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012
Trump has been attempting to secure permission for his proposed wall since shortly after he purchased the golf course and resort in February 2014 for an estimated $10 million. The powerful storms that lashed Ireland that winter caused over 25 feet of frontage along the course’s coastal edge to erode. On the 18-hole course, the 14th hole was washed away and the 5th, 9th and 18th holes were damaged.
As a safe-guard against further coastal erosion, Trump’s team in Doonbeg is seeking to build an $11 million, 1.7 mile wall made up of more than 220,000 tons of boulders.
Trump’s Irish firm, TIGL Ireland Enterprises, had applied for a strategic infrastructure development (SID) classification from An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s planning board, in an effort to work around Clare County Council, which has not been accommodating to TIGL’s plan.
That application was denied in April, so now Trump has again submitted his plans to Clare County Council.
According to Politico, the environmental impact statement portion of the application reads:
“If the predictions of an increase in sea level rise as a result of global warming prove correct, however, it is likely that there will be a corresponding increase in coastal erosion rates not just in Doughmore Bay but around much of the coastline of Ireland. In our view, it could reasonably be expected that the rate of sea level rise might become twice of that presently occurring. … As a result, we would expect the rate of dune recession to increase.
“As with other predictions of global warming and its effects, there is no universal consensus regarding changes in these events,” it states. “Our advice is to assume that the recent average rate of dune recession will not alter greatly in the next few decades, perhaps as far into the future as 2050 as assumed in the [government study] but that subsequently an increase in this rate is more likely than not.”
TIGL also distributed a brochure to local residents which outlines the “Need for Coastal Protection.” The final point listed on the brochure is that "[p]redicted sea level rise and more frequent storm events will increase the rate of erosion throughout the 21st century."
We should be focused on clean and beautiful air-not expensive and business closing GLOBAL WARMING-a total hoax!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2013
Bob Inglis, a Republican member of the House of Representatives for South Carolina, called Trump’s contradictory behavior “diabolical.” Inglis, who advocates a conservative approach to dealing with climate change, told Politico: “Donald Trump is working to ensure his at-risk properties and his company is trying to figure out how to deal with sea level rise. Meanwhile, he’s saying things to audiences that he must know are not true. … You have a soft place in your heart for people who are honestly ignorant, but people who are deceitful, that’s a different thing.”
There have been various studies over the years examining the potential impact of global warming on Ireland if the rates at which sea levels are rising do not cease. According to data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released in December, within 200 years Dublin, Cork and Galway could be underwater.
Read more: Global warming map shows Sligo, Galway and Mayo underwater by 2100
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