The US president's resort in Ireland received permission to build two seawalls to protect three holes on his golf course.
- Donald Trump just got permission to build two seawalls around his Irish golf resort.
- Environmentalists say the barriers could damage the resort's surrounding natural resources.
- Trump Doonbeg cited climate change as a reason to build the walls — even though Trump doesn't believe in it.
Donald Trump's golf resort in Ireland has received permission to build two seawalls to prevent water from eroding part of the course.
Local authorities in Doonbeg, Ireland, gave Trump International Golf Links the go-ahead on Thursday to build the two long barriers along a nearby coast, The New York Times reported.
One wall will be 2,000 feet long, while the other will be 840 feet long, the Times said.
The barriers will be made out of limestone rock, and placed in front of holes one, nine, and 18 on the course, The Irish Independent reported. The walls will weigh a total of 38,000 tonnes.
County Clare Council's decision angered environmentalists, who said the walls could damage the resort's surrounding natural resources, which include a beach, dunes, and greenery.
Some residents also said the barriers could alter tidal movement and cause water to flow into their own properties instead, the Times reported.
However, County Clare Council, which granted the permission, said the wall was unlikely to significantly impact the resort's surroundings.
Irish Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said, as cited by The Guardian: "It's disappointing. We should be altering the golf course, not the coastline."
Ryan said he didn't believe Trump's ownership had influenced council members but said: "They wouldn't be human beings if they weren't sensitive to the fact that the golf course in question is owned by the president of the United States."
Environmental groups plan to appeal the decision, the Independent said.
In its 2016 permit application, Trump International cited rising sea levels and extreme weather as its reason to build the wall, Politico reported.
Trump, however, previously claimed that climate change was a "hoax" and was "created by and for the Chinese." His administration also removed climate change from its list of national security threats earlier this week.
Trump placed his business holdings in a revocable trust managed by his sons before becoming president. While this removes Trump from making day-to-day decisions at his businesses, his lawyers said earlier this year that Trump could draw money from his businesses at any time.