MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Media in West Virginia has access to WVU’s field of experts for comment on President Donald Trump’s announced intention to pull the United States out of the Paris Accord, a nearly worldwide agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2020.
(Below reporters will find quotes from the experts.)
West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise, or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVU Today.
As for the Paris Accord, experts at West Virginia University offer quotes below and say the move is “poorly conceived” and will cost the U.S. more in world stature than the accord would have imposed.
Robert D Duval, Ph. D.
Interim Associate Dean for Operations
Chair, Department of Health Policy, Management, and Leadership
WVU School of Public Health
“Since active leadership and engagement in global issues is really a form of marketing and advertisement for your nation and what it represents, this is sort of like saying ‘We don’t believe in our own science, but you should still buy our technology.’ The costs incurred in the minds of the rest of the world will greatly exceed anything this accord might impose.”
Contact info: 304.581.1826 (office) or 304.906.9198 (cell)
Paolo Farah
Assistant Professor of Public Administration
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
“The signature of the Paris Agreement was an overdue success in the climate change negotiations of the last 20 years for all the parties involved including the United States. The potential decision of the Trump Administration on Paris Climate Deal would potentially have a relevant impact in terms of loss of credibility and trust of United States in its diplomatic relations with the rest of the world.”
Contact info: 304.293.7966 or [email protected]
Jason A. Hubbart, Ph.D.
Director, Institute of Water Security and Science
Assist. Director WV Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station
Professor, Hydrology and Water Quality
“Climate change, in spite the convictions of the current administration, is unequivocally, and internationally accepted to be occurring at least in part due to anthropogenic influences. To withdraw from the Paris Accord is a poorly conceived idea at a time of need for the greatest human collaborations the Earth has ever witnessed. Of equivalent importance is that for any global consortium, the preservation of civil unity between governments requires investment and engagement, not withdrawal and apathy.”
Contact info: [email protected]
Duval, Farah and Hubbart also spoke about climate change in a previous Expert Pitch.
West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise, or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVU Today.
For assistance and more information, contact University Relations at 304.293.6697