The architects of the Paris agreement deliberately designed it to get the Congress of the U.S. to approve it because it does not bind the U.S. to set emissions targets or to do anything to reduce man-made global warming.  The authors were mindful of the Kyoto Protocol, which was roundly rejected by the United States Congress because, inter alia, it set binding emissions targets for wealthy countries while letting most developing nations, including China, off the hook. But now, as forces within the Trump administration continue to debate whether to leave the Paris agreement, they face a far different calculus.  The accord is alleged to be nonbinding, imposing no serious legal restraints on the United States or any other nation.  But in fact, it binds the signatories to make periodic reports of what action they have been taking to reduce CO2 emissions.  That means that the signatories are expected to take some action to reduce man-made global warming and to report...(Read Full Post)