United States Formally Withdraws from Paris Climate Agreement

The U.S. State Department has formally notified the United Nations of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. The United States considers the agreement unfair and economically harmful to its own economy. Emmanuel Macron has expressed regret over this decision.

Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement was one of Donald Trump’s electoral promises. The United States has now announced its withdrawal from the agreement. This decision has led to strong protest and criticism from the opposition in America.

On November 4th, the U.S. State Department formally announced the country’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

It has been reported that the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement has also been communicated to the United Nations. November 4th was the earliest possible date for withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Paris Climate Agreement was formally adopted on November 4th, 2016 with the signatures of 195 countries, including the United States (the Obama administration).

This accord includes solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stopping the consumption of fossil fuels by replacing them with renewable energy.

According to the Paris Agreement, global warming by the year 2050 should remain below 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, and greenhouse gas emissions should decrease in the second half of the century.

The set targets are to be reviewed and optimized every five years.

Furthermore, by establishing transparent rules, countries worldwide are obligated to submit reports regarding their activities in combating climate change.

Implementing part of this accord’s provisions will be mandatory for the 195 countries present at the Paris meeting, while other parts will be voluntary.

According to this accord, countries worldwide are permitted to set their own national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Withdrawal from this agreement was prohibited during the first three-year period following the accord. Now the United States has formally announced its withdrawal precisely on the first day after the end of this three-year period.

Following the announcement of withdrawal, the United States must still comply with the commitments stipulated in the Paris Climate Agreement for one year. Therefore, the complete withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement will be possible on November 3rd, 2020. In this way, the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement will be postponed until after next year’s U.S. presidential elections.

Pompeo’s Statements Regarding the Paris Climate Agreement

Mike Pompeo, the U.S. State Department, following the formal announcement of the country’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, has stated that the United States remains willing to engage with its allies on a “pragmatic and realistic model” concerning the fight against global warming.

The U.S. Secretary of State has emphasized that America will address issues related to climate change while also paying attention to its economic growth.

Pompeo has also stated that the United States will continue to rely on a mix of different energy sources to meet its energy needs. Accordingly, the use of fossil fuels, including coal and oil, will continue.

The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement essentially represents the implementation of another one of Donald Trump’s electoral promises. Trump had spoken about the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement in June 2017. The U.S. government considers this agreement unfair and has claimed that implementing this agreement is economically harmful to the country.

Reactions to the U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement

Prominent figures from the Democratic Party have condemned the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has referred to global warming and climate change as a major threat to human existence in the current era.

In Pelosi’s view, neglecting climate change could endanger the health and well-being of all people. The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has called the country’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement a “betrayal of the future of American children.”

Chuck Schumer, one of the senior Democratic senators, has also described this action by the U.S. government as a “catastrophic setback” that could have adverse effects for decades on the environment, economy, and national security of the United States.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France, who is traveling to China for an official visit, has also expressed regret over the news of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

Macron has stated that following the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, closer cooperation between China and France on environmental issues has become more imperative.

In this regard, Macron is scheduled to sign an agreement with Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, on Wednesday, November 6th, according to which the two countries will commit to adhering to the Paris Climate Agreement.

Source: DW