The United States officially withdraws from the Paris Climate Agreement.

The US State Department has notified the United Nations of its formal withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, which the US considers unfair and detrimental to its economy. Emmanuel Macron has expressed regret over the decision.

Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement was one of Donald Trump's campaign promises. Now, the United States has announced that it will withdraw from the agreement, an issue that has sparked strong protests and criticism from the opposition in the United States.

On November 4, the US State Department officially announced the country's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

It is said that the United Nations has also been informed of the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. November 4th was the first possible day for the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

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

This agreement includes solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop the consumption of fossil fuels by replacing them with renewable energies.

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

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

Furthermore, by setting transparent rules, countries around the world are required to report on their activities in combating climate change.

Implementation of some of the provisions of this agreement will be mandatory for the 195 countries present at the Paris meeting, while another part will be voluntary.

Under this agreement, countries around the world are allowed to set their own national targets for reducing greenhouse gases.

Withdrawal from the treaty was prohibited during the first three years after the agreement. Now, the United States has officially announced its withdrawal on the very first day after the end of this three-year period.

After the withdrawal announcement, the United States still has one year to meet its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. Therefore, the United States' definitive withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement will be possible on November 3, 2020. In this way, the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement will be postponed until after next year's US presidential election.

Pompeo's remarks on the Paris Climate Agreement

After the official announcement of the country's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced that the United States is still willing to discuss with its allies a "pragmatic and realistic model" for combating global warming.

The US Secretary of State has emphasized that the United States will address climate change issues while focusing on its economic growth.

Pompeo also said that the United States will continue to use a mix of different energy sources to meet its energy needs. Thus, the use of fossil fuels, including coal and oil, will continue.

The US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement is effectively the fulfillment of another of Donald Trump's campaign promises. Trump had spoken of the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement in June 2017. The US government considers the agreement unfair and claims that implementing it is detrimental to the country's economy.

Reactions to the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement

Prominent figures in the Democratic Party have condemned the US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called global warming and climate change the greatest threat to the existence of humanity at this time.

Pelosi believes that ignoring climate change could jeopardize the health and well-being of all people. The Speaker of the US House of Representatives called the country's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement a "betrayal to the future of America's children."

Chuck Schumer, a senior Democratic senator, also called the US government's move a "catastrophic setback" that could have adverse effects on the US environment, economy, and national security for decades.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on an official visit to China, has also expressed regret over the news of the US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

Macron has said that closer cooperation between China and France on environmental issues has become more necessary after the US withdrew from the Paris climate agreement.

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

Source: DW