At a recent meeting of the Arctic Council, made up of the eight countries that comprise the Arctic, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described that rapidly warming region as a land of “opportunity and abundance.” He cited its untapped reserves of oil, gas, uranium, gold, fishing and rare earth minerals which in addition to the opening up of new shipping routes – a new Suez Canal, will create “exciting new opportunities” for economic growth. TAt Pompeo’s insistence, the Council’s final report excluded any mention of climate change.

Only six months ago Mr. Trump refused to comment about the recently released Climate Science Special Report culminating three years’ research by myriad Federal agencies and mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990. He’d seen it, he said, but he didn’t believe it.

This president supports and reiterates the lie that climate change doesn’t threaten the planet and that people have little to do with it. His reasons for doing so are obvious— a new frontier is on the horizon, one ripe for exploitation. Despite his “pro-life” mantra, Mr. Trump is overseeing a sixth extinction of species; despite the efforts of communities throughout Maine organizing to lessen our carbon footprints, the commander-in-chief works to negate those efforts--MDI’s A Climate to Thrive, Maine Sierra Club’s climate action teams, all of which strive to

act locally and think globally. Maine Sierra Club’s recent climate change conference “Building Thriving Communities” provided communities with ideas for moving forward toward 100% sustainable clean, renewable energy, but this administration promotes pollution as patriotism. Mr. Trump even sued California (a blue state) for setting strict air pollution standards.

The president is obviously exploiting the planet for all its worth and celebrates the climate change he calls a hoax. Mike Pompeo’s words should be enough to indict Mr. Trump for obstructing planetary justice.

Beverly Roxby lives in Belfast