President-elect Donald Trump has stated he does not intend to continue supporting the US trend of switching to sustainable, clean energy. With regards to the environment, he said, "We can leave a little bit".  He denies climate change is happening, wants to remove 60-80% of EPA regulations, and has appointed Ebell to his EPA transition team.  (Sources are below.)

In November, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump named Myron Ebell to his EPA transition team.  Myron has made it his mission to promote the false claim that climate change is not real, despite his lack of any scientific credentials. (He holds degrees in philosophy and political theory.)

====Background===

In 2016, Mr. Ebell encouraged Congress to spend no funds on the Paris Climate Agreement (Washington Times, http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/myron-ebell/). Failing to abide by that agreement will not only have dire consequences for the environment and global stability, but could also jeopardize the United States' relationship with the 196 nations who also signed the agreement.  Some nations may start to impose "carbon-pollution tax on imports of American-made goods" (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/trump-climate-change.html

Even some people who do not deny climate change do not fully understand that it won't be one big catastrophic event.  It is already happening.  It will reduce resources in some areas, which as we know, often leads to civil unrest, turmoil, migrations, and even violence.  

The economic cost of climate change will be ever-increasing.  Taxpayers are already footing the bill for applying bandaids, such as dealing with the ever-increasing "King's Tides" in Florida, where the band-aid is "raising one road six inches costs $1 million for a third of a mile".  (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/18/us/intensified-by-climate-change-king-tides-change-ways-of-life-in-florida.html  All while some companies that greatly contribute to global warming get tax payer subsidies.

The Pentagon has stated "decisively that climate change poses an immediate threat to national security, with increased risks from terrorism, infectious disease, global poverty and food shortages. It also predicted rising demand for military disaster responses as extreme weather creates more global humanitarian crises."  (New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/14/us/pentagon-says-global-warming-presents-immediate-security-threat.html).

According to an article at PBS, "Ebell, a leading contrarian of the scientific consensus on global warming, leads environmental and energy policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a libertarian advocacy group financed in part by the fossil fuel industry. Ebell also helps chair the Cooler Heads Coalition, a group which describes its mission as “dispelling the myths of global warming.” He’s been described as “enemy #1” to the climate change community, and his own bio highlights how he has been named a “climate criminal” by Greenpeace." (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/meet-myron-ebell-the-climate-contrarian-leading-trumps-epa-transition/).

The EPA regulates pollution.  The American Lung Association reported in
April, 2016 that, "despite continued improvement in air quality, 166 million Americans at risk from health effects of unhealthy air."  We need to do more to improve our air quality, not less.

Donald Trump is not a scientist, economic expert, or environment expert.  He has a great deal of work ahead of him, and because of his many duties, it means he must listen to trusted advisers and various experts on this matter in order to make decisions.

In an interview with Hiatt at the Washington Post, Mr.Trump stated, "I think there’s a change in weather. I am not a great believer in man-made climate change."  He went on to say, "They call it all sorts of different things; now they’re using 'extreme weather'".  (https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2016/03/21/a-transcript-of-donald-trumps-meeting-with-the-washington-post-editorial-board/?utm_term=.4f0772ac6d0c).

The first and third statements demonstrate that Mr. Trump does not yet fully understand the difference between weather and climate.  His statement regarding belief shows that he thinks climate change is something one can choose to believe in or not, like religious faith.

If president-elect Trump is known for one thing, it is his ability to change his mind on serious issues decisively and without apology.  I believe that Donald Trump, if he were to have more knowledge on this matter, could be persuaded to pay attention to the science and appoint a qualified person to lead the EPA transition team.  

Donald Trump has stated in various interviews that he wants to vastly reduce the responsibilities of the EPA at the federal level, not just its role in combatting climate change.  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/feb/26/republican-candidates-donald-trump-eliminate-epa-law-experts​ http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Donald_Trump_Environment.htm  Donald Trump told "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace, "We'll be fine with the environment. We can leave a little bit, but you can't destroy businesses."  None of us want the economy or businesses at large to suffer for any reason.  Businesses and the economy WILL suffer if we don't combate climate change.  That will be the most visible effect.  American children's health will suffer from increased pollution.

If he splits up the EPA and leaves states to regulate, it pits one state against another, so that there will be pressure at the state level to decrease regulation for short-term gain at the expense of long-term economic and environmental devastation.

This is a bipartisan issue.  The majority of the people of the United States know that climate change is real and is happening now.  The majority of the people of the Unite States support clean water, clean air, and maintaining biodiversity.

====To Be Delivered To===

Donald Trump

All members of the U.S Senate

Secretary Kerry: Since not abiding by the Paris agreement has the potential for seriously impacting the US relationship to many countries around the world and increase global strife, we also petition Secretary of State John Kerry.  We also petition Kerry's chief of staff, Jonathon Finer to bring this to the attention of Secretary Kerry.

Elon Musk: Finally, we petition Elon Musk, who is another billionaire.  He is a  businessman and inventor. Mr. Musk has proven that environmental protection need not be bad for business, and in fact can improve the economy.  He could potentially "speak Donald Trump's language".  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk

===Petition===

Please read the petition letter.

Note: The photo is made available for public use by the United States Coast Guard.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deepwater_Horizon_fire_2010-04-21.jpg