5/11/2017

CABINET/CLIMATE CHANGE/STATE/TRUMP PEOPLE/REX TILLERSON: “U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told representatives of Canada, Russia and other nations with Arctic territory that the U.S. needs time to develop its climate policy but is listening to other nations’ concerns.
‘We are appreciative that each of you has an important point of view, and you should know that we are taking the time to understand your concerns,’ Tillerson said in remarks Thursday at the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska. ‘We’re not going to rush to make a decision.’
The former head of Exxon Mobil Corp. also joined other members of the eight-nation Arctic Council in issuing a joint statement citing the landmark Paris climate accord and calling for global action to reduce greenhouse gases.
The moves by Tillerson are a departure for a U.S. administration that’s questioned the existence of global warming and vows to put ‘America First.’ President Donald Trump, who has called global warming a hoax, has moved aggressively to unravel programs that reduce emissions, saying the policies hobble U.S. economic growth. Last month, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry refused to endorse a statement following a Group of Seven meeting after ministers from Canada, Germany and other nations insisted on including references to climate change.”

-Nafeesa Syeed and Joe Ryan, “Tillerson Says U.S. Listening to Other Nations on Climate,” Bloomberg, May 11, 2017 3:18pm