text: It has become clear that, in the USA in particular, the most meaningful action to combat global warming is (and will be) taken by lower levels of government at the state and municipal levels and by major corporations. They all do this because they recognize it to be in their best interests. In view of this reality the federal government could have adopted one of two obvious stances, i.e. to encourage what is happening or to discourage it. Trump has chosen to discourage it. This cannot be interpreted as an informed and intelligent approach.