US to officially exit Paris climate agreement

US to officially exit Paris climate agreement
US to officially exit Paris climate agreement

US on Monday officially informed the United Nations of itswithdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, making the United States the onlyeconomic power outside Paris climate agreement.

In year-long process, US President Donald Trump has decided topress ahead with the withdrawal of Paris climate agreement despite mountingevidence of climate change and its effects, while temperatures in September forthe fourth consecutive month were at or near record levels.

The notification provides for the United States to withdraw fromthe agreement negotiated with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama a year from nowon November 4, 2020.

In announcing the move, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo underscoredTrump's announcement in 2017 that the deal imposed "unfair economic burdens" onthe United States.

"The US approach recognizes the reality of the global energy mix,and uses all energy and technology resources cleanly and effectively, includingfossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energy," Pompeo said in a statement.

Pompeo stressed that the United States "will continue to provide arealistic and pragmatic model" in international negotiations.

Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, said the Trump administration "once again mocked our allies, dismissedthe facts and further politicized the world's greatest environmental challenge".

"This decision will be one of the worst examples of PresidentTrump's willingness to relinquish US leadership and his abdication to China,India and others to control the global economy," Menendez said in a statement.

Paris climate agreement set the margin of warming at 2 degreesCelsius compared with pre-industrial levels, a goal that scientists considervital to detect the worst consequences of warming, particularly drought,increased floods and worsened storms.

The former US president has taken into account the obstacles to theimplementation of this agreement by insisting that it is not binding and thateach country selects the actions it intends to take and inform the UnitedNations.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
Ajel
english.ajel.sa