Emmanuel Macron, who is the new President of France, doesn’t seem to be letting go of President Trump’s decision to back out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
France has made no secret of the fact that they are trolling him over this particular issue. Macron has joined a number of other world leaders to step up the effort to start reversing the effects of climate change on the planet in spite of Trump’s decision.
It was announced to the public earlier this month that Trump fully intended on backing out of the Paris climate agreement, thereby weakening international efforts to combat global warming. Trump gave a speech in the Rose Garden of the White House, stating that he would stand with the people of the United States, calling the Paris climate agreement a “draconian deal.”
President Trump’s decision to back out of the climate change agreement that had been signed by 195 different nationals was definitely shocking to some, and not so much to others. So far Mr. Trump hasn’t had the most environmentally-friendly stance with regards to his policies and even the cabinet members he has chosen.
Trump stated that he wanted to negotiate a better deal for the United States, as he felt like this one didn’t have much to offer. Within minutes of the president’s remarks, the leaders of France, Germany, and Italy all stated that the Paris climate accord could not be renegotiated.
Macron has made a fairly bold move by putting pressure on American researchers as well as people from all over the world who want to fight climate change to move to France. There is absolutely no doubt that new French president is serious, and he has approached his appeal to researchers all over the world with a very Trump-esque sort of zeal.
The French President’s “Make Our Planet Great Again” is definitely trolling Trump, but its message is still very serious. This website has invited researchers, businesses, entrepreneurs, students and non-government organizations around the world to come to France to help meet the goals laid out in the Paris agreement.
Macron stated in a recent online video, “Please, come to France. You are welcome, it’s your nation. Want innovative people. We want people working on climate change, energy, renewable and new technologies.” He called Trump’s withdrawal from the climate accord “an actual mistake,” calling on scientists and researchers to come to France to help combat climate change.
“To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the president of the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland,” Macron said on Facebook. It seems as though the new French president is very serious when it comes to bringing in people from all over the world who could aid in the battle against climate change.
When you visit the website, you can clearly see it calling out President Trump on the home screen. From the website: “The (Paris climate agreement) decision is unfortunate but it only reinforced our determination. The planet needs your innovative skills. So, are you IN to change our daily lives and make our planet great again?”
Those who go to www.makeourplanetgreatagain.fr will be able to view a series of step-by-step instructions for those who are interested in moving to France to fight climate change. This website tells researchers, teachers and students how they can go about applying for open faculty positions as well as Ph.D. programs.
Certain people may qualify for a 4-year grant to help with financing their researching project. This grant comes with salary, working staff, students and over expenses. Researchers have the option of staying in France for as long as their grant lasts. Those who qualify for one of these grants won’t have any restrictions with regards to their spouses working in the country.
The website states that France’s school system is free and university tuition is significantly lower than in America. While it remains to be seen just how many people are going to flock to Franc to flight climate change, it does seem like a very appealing offer from the French government.