I’m Ashamed Of The Bozeman City Commission

The Bozeman City Commission recently voted to support the Paris Climate Agreement.

This is a climate change agreement that President Trump decided to withdraw from and sent the appropriate paperwork to do so. (More on Withdrawal Below)

With all the serious problems facing our city I’m at a loss for words that our Bozeman City Commission would even consider bringing this up on the agenda at all.

I for one am ashamed of this Commission. The only one who gets a pass is Commissioner Jeff Krauss, the only no vote on this ridiculous measure.

A Waste Of The Commission’s Time

Bozeman is not a perfect city. There are important things that our city commission should address and this fiasco is not one of them.

First of all any support, or lack of support, of the Paris Climate Agreement by the Bozeman City Commission is meaningless.

I doubt that China is going to say, “OMG, the Bozeman Commission is wise to us. We better clean up our act.”

The agreement itself, which is voluntary, doesn’t bind anyone legally to do anything. It’s pie in the sky promises. There’s no fine, tax, or penalty to any nation for not meeting pollution reduction, goals, or standards.

In addition, President Obama signed an agreement with China that allows them to pollute to their heart’s content until 2030 while we’re supposed to cut ours.

City Commission Ignorance Of The Agreement

As I mentioned earlier Trump has submitted paperwork to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. This cannot happen until 2020 based on the wording of the agreement. (See Below)

Article 28 of the agreement enables parties to withdraw from the agreement after sending a withdrawal notification to the depositary, but notice can be given no earlier than three years after the agreement goes into force for the country. Withdrawal is effective one year after the depositary is notified. Alternatively, the Agreement stipulates that withdrawal from the UNFCCC, under which the Paris Agreement was adopted, would also withdraw the state from the Paris Agreement. The conditions for withdrawal from the UNFCCC are the same as for the Paris Agreement. In the agreement no provisions for non-compliance are stated.

On August 4, 2017, the Trump Administration delivered an official notice to the United Nations that the U.S. intends to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as it is legally eligible to do so. The formal notice of withdrawal cannot be submitted until the agreement is in force for 3 years for the US, in 2019. In accordance with Article 28, as the agreement entered into force in the United States on 4 November 2016, the earliest possible effective withdrawal date for the United States is 4 November 2020. If it chooses to withdraw by way of withdrawing from the UNFCCC, notice could be given immediately (the UNFCCC entered into force for the US in 1994), and be effective one year later. (Source)

Apparently no one on the commission did their homework or were aware that we’re stuck in this thing until 2020. What ignorance on their part to bring it to the floor for a vote now.

And, what a waste of valuable commission time, and public comment to support something that has no effect on anything or anyone in Bozeman.

They should be ashamed of themselves for wasting the voters time.

Some Final Thoughts

Commissioners: I’m really sorry that you didn’t get the president you wanted. Whining like children on a playground that you didn’t get your way isn’t helpful to your constituents.

Instead of wasting the voters time and money on support of a meaningless agreement perhaps working to improve energy efficiency in Bozeman government buildings should be moved to the top of your agenda.

That’s the support I’m looking for rather than your disappointment in the last election.

I think you’re forgetting who’re the employers and employees in this deal. Stop the political BS and get to work for the people who elected you to do productive things for our city.

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