President Trump signs new executive order on climate change.

US President Donald Trump has just signed a new executive order on climate change, aimed at restricting US emissions regulations and the global climate agreement.

Surrounded by coal miners, President Donald Trump (center) signs the Energy Independence Executive Order at the Energy Defense Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C. Photo: AFP

On March 28, President Trump signed an executive order reviewing some of his predecessor Barack Obama's climate change legacy, declaring he would end these "job-killing principles."

During his first visit to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as reported by AFP, President Trump ordered a review of emissions limits for coal-fired power plants and the removal of federal restrictions on coal production.

Trump declared that the new measures heralded "a new era for the energy and coal industry and the creation of many jobs." Coal miners were present when Trump signed the executive order.

Trump's views on climate change are similar to those of many Republicans. According to Gallup, about 68% of Americans believe that climate change is caused by humans. However, only about 40% of Republicans say they are worried about it.

The U.S. coal industry has long been declining, and with natural gas, cheap renewable energy, and complex geology making the fuel sector increasingly less profitable, the industry is facing challenges.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there were 88,000 coal miners in the country in 2008. However, today the number of coal miners has decreased by approximately 25%.

Following Trump's move, some experts and environmental groups warned that the executive order could be the beginning of an effort to undermine internationally agreed-upon goals under the Paris Climate Agreement.

Reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants is one of the key commitments to cut U.S. carbon emissions by 26%-28% by 2025. "It would make it virtually impossible for the U.S. to achieve its stated goal," said climate expert Bob Ward of the London School of Economics.

In addition, some experts warn that the economic benefits of abandoning Obama's Clean Energy plan will be limited. "In my opinion, the executive order won't have much of an impact. Cutting EPA funding and repealing its regulations won't bring the coal industry back," said Professor James Van Nostrand of West Virginia University.

The Trump administration has yet to say whether it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. "Whether we stay or not is still under discussion," a senior administration official told AFP.

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper