Theglobalagreement,adoptedbythe196partiesoftheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChangeatthe21stSessionoftheConferenceoftheParties,iscommittedtocutgreenhousegasemissionsandputthebrakesonglobalwarming.
Trump’sannouncementmeanstheUnitedStateswilljoinjusttwoothernationsnotonboardwiththeagreement-SyriaandNicaragua.
Trump’sdecisionhassparkedawaveofinternationalcriticism.AfricanswerevocalintheirdismayattheU.S.withdrawal.ZambianMinisterofWaterDevelopment,SanitationandEnvironmentalProtectionLloydKaziyasaidthiswasablowtodevelopingcountriesthatwereadverselybeingaffectedbythenegativeeffectsofclimatechange.
“RightnowwearestrugglingtogetfinancingfromtheGreenClimateFundandthedecisionbytheUnitedStateswilljustworsenthesituation,”hesaid.
TheSouthAfricanDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairsSpokespersonAlbieModisesaidtheUnitedStateshascontributedsignificantlytoglobalemissionsandthereforehasamoralobligationtoleadinreducingemissionsandsupportpoorereconomiesincontributingtotheglobaleffort.
EnvironmentalistssaytheUnitedStatesisresponsibleforaround15percentofglobalcarbonemissions,meaningitswithdrawalplacesmoreofaburdenonothercountriestoattaintheirowngoals.Inaddition,formerU.S.PresidentBarackObamahadpledged$3billiontoaninternationalGreenClimateFundaimedathelpingdevelopingcountries,whichwillnowfallbythewayside.
CriticsalsoincludethosefromwithintheUnitedStateswheregovernorsofNewYork,CaliforniaandWashingtonhavesaidtheywillestablishacoalitiontofightglobalwarming.CaliforniaGovernorJerryBrown,whowasrecentlyinChinatodiscussclimatechangecooperation,said“IfthePresidentisgoingtobeAWOLinthisprofoundlyimportanthumanendeavor,thenCaliforniaandotherstateswillstepup[andfillthevoid].”
DespitetheU.S.pullout,MiguelAriasCanete,theEuropeanCommissionerforClimateActionandEnergy,saidtheEUandChinaarejoiningforcestoforgeaheadontheimplementationoftheParisAgreementandacceleratetheglobaltransitiontocleanenergy.Chinaintendstoincreaseitsshareofnon-fossilfuelsinprimaryenergyconsumptiontoaround20percentby2030.
DespiteTrumppersistingincallingclimatechangea“hoax,”UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgram(UNEP)ExecutiveDirectorErikSolheimsaysthescienceonclimatechangeisperfectlyclear.“Weneedmoreaction,notless.”Hesaidcommittingtoclimateactionhelpscountriesonthefrontlineofextremismandterrorism,assistscoastalcommunities,protectsfoodsecurityandbuildsstabilitytoavoidaddingmorerefugeestowhatisalreadyanunprecedentedglobalhumanitariancrisis.
Thereisglobalconsensusforactiononclimatechange.Puttingonecountryfirstcannolongerbeanoptioninaworldthatmustshakeoffthe“usandthem”attitudeandlearntoworktogetheronthisissue,whichisclearlyaplanetaryproblem.Thenegativeeffectofclimatechangeknowsnoborders.
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