Advertisement

Stephen Hawking: Trump could turn Earth into Venus with temperatures of 250c

Climate change could be “irreversible,” says Stephen Hawking
Climate change could be “irreversible,” says Stephen Hawking

Professor Stephen Hawking has said Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord could be the “tipping point” that “turns Earth into Venus”.

Speaking to the BBC to mark his 75th birthday the A Brief History of Time author said global warming could become “irreversible”.

Trump‘s action could push the Earth over the brink, to become like Venus, with a temperature of two hundred and fifty degrees, and raining sulphuric acid,” he said.

“Climate change is one of the great dangers we face and it’s one we can prevent if we act now.

“By denying the evidence for climate change, and pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Donald Trump will cause avoidable environmental damage to our beautiful planet, endangering the natural world, for us and our children.”

MORE: Donald Trump is ‘greatest threat to international security’, says former MI6 head
MORE: ‘Modern day presidential’: Donald Trump defends use of social media in Twitter storm

He told the BBC: “I fear evolution has inbuilt greed and aggression to the human genome.

“There is no sign of conflict lessening, and the development of militarised technology and weapons of mass destruction could make that disastrous.

“The best hope for the survival of the human race might be independent colonies in space.”

Last month, Trump said his decision to pull the US from the landmark Paris climate agreement was “a reassertion of America’s sovereignty”.

He added he he was “elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

“The United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord, but begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris accord or an entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers — so we’re getting out,” he added.

Former Vice President Al Gore, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his climate change activism, calls Trump’s action “reckless and indefensible.”

Barack Obama, who signed the Paris accord, said: “I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack. But even in the absence of American leadership, even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future, I’m confident that our states, cities and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got.”