Republican Presidential Hopeful, Vivek Ramaswamy, Vows to Withdraw US from Paris Climate Accord and Challenges Climate Change Agenda
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy intends to withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord, dismissing climate change as a hoax and advocating for American energy resources. He also emphasizes prioritizing domestic policies and supporting Israel's right to defend itself.
In a recent interview with AFP, US Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy expressed his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord if elected. Ramaswamy, who is currently polling fourth among Republican contenders, dismissed the climate change agenda as a hoax, arguing that global surface temperatures are indeed rising but do not pose an existential risk to humanity.
According to Ramaswamy, the Paris accord is based on flawed premises, and he believes that the US should distance itself from the agreement. He has made headlines with his controversial statements on climate, advocating for the unlocking of American energy resources, including drilling, fracking, and coal burning. Moreover, Ramaswamy has branded environmental activists as a religious cult.
Ramaswamy further argued that policies restricting fossil fuel usage are actually more detrimental to human beings than climate change itself. He pointed out that former President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris agreement in 2017, a decision supported by Ramaswamy. However, Trump's Democratic successor, Joe Biden, later rejoined the pact. Looking beyond climate issues, Ramaswamy emphasized the need for the US to prioritize domestic policies instead of assuming the role of global police. He proposed that the country focus on protecting the interests of its citizens within its borders.
Discussing the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Ramaswamy implored the US to diplomatically support Israel's right to defend itself comprehensively. Meanwhile, in the state of Ohio, voters were deciding on whether to embed abortion rights into the state's constitution, drawing attention to an issue that is expected to be prominent in the next US presidential race. As an Ohio native, Ramaswamy described himself as fiercely pro-life and voted against the amendment. He expressed his belief that enshrining abortion rights in the constitution would not be beneficial for the country or for Ohio. As Ramaswamy participates in the Republican presidential debates, he hopes for a more productive discussion than previous instances, where numerous participants engaged in shouting matches. With just five candidates participating in the upcoming debate, Ramaswamy anticipates a more constructive dialogue.