Europe reacts with anger as Trump dumps Paris Agreement

By Niamh Michail

- Last updated on GMT

Europe reacts with anger as Trump dumps Paris Agreement

Related tags Donald trump

Europe's politicians, academics and business leaders have strongly condemned US president Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Trump said he was acting in the interests of American citizens by pulling out of the accord and the “draconian economic and financial burdens [it] imposes on our country”.

The decision puts the US, the world’s second biggest carbon emitter after China, alongside Syria and Nicaragua, the only other countries to not have signed the treaty.

No renegotiation

The president said he was open to renegotiating the deal to obtain more favourable terms for the US, a suggestion that was firmly rejected by EU leaders.

Mainland Europe's three biggest economies, Germany, France and Italy, issued a joint statement saying: "We note the United States' decision with regret​ […] We are firmly convinced that the agreement cannot be renegotiated.”

Addressing the public yesterday in the White House’s rose garden, ​Trump said: “We don’t want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore. And they won’t be. I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.”

Twitter users were quick to point out that Trump actually lost in Pittsburgh while the Mayor of Pittburgh, Bill Peduto, said it was now up to cities to take the lead. 

A spokesperson for trade association FoodDrinkEurope (FDE) said it supported the position of the EU’s commissioner for climate action and energy Miguel, Arias Cañete, who “deeply regrets the unilateral decision by the Trump administration.”

“The food and drink sector is 100% dependent on the climate for the production of the raw material it transforms,” ​FDE said. “Climate change affects the sector, both in terms of production and price stability. Europe’s food and drink manufacturers continue to take action to reduce the impact of climate change both within their operations and beyond.”

Paul Polman, CEO Unilever and chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), said it was "unfortunate".

"Nevertheless, the Paris Agreement remains legally binding and continues to provide a collaborative international framework to manage climate change while strengthening the competitiveness of global markets,” ​he added.­ 

“Regardless of this decision, the global business community remains committed delivering ambitious climate action to ensure […] a cleaner, more efficient and resilient global economy,” ​said Polman, adding that the agreement is expected to unlock a $13.5 trillion (€12tn) growth opportunity by 2030 through markets for innovative clean energy and energy efficient technologies.

Climate change carbon pollution

Whether Trump can, on a legal basis, pull the US out of the agreement before his four-year term ends has been called into question.

Speaking on Wednesday ahead of the announcement, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said: "It would take three to four years after the agreement came into force in November 2016 to leave the agreement.

“So this notion, 'I am Trump, I am American, America First and I'm going to get out of it' — that won't happen.”

“The law is the law and it must be obeyed," ​Juncker added.

'Rogue nation'

France’s newly-elected president, Emmanuel Macron, said he respected the decision but thought it was a mistake.

“The Paris Agreement is irreversible and will be implemented​, Macron said in an English-language address before, in a nod to Trump’s ‘Make our country great again’ election campaign slogan, calling on countries to “Make our planet great again​.”

Wenonah Hauter, executive director of US non-profit organisation, the Food and Water Watch, called Trump’s decision a “foolish [and] belligerent​” abdication of responsibility.

The Paris accord falls far short of the bold, decisive action needed to avert the most serious impacts of impending climate chaos – but it is certainly better than nothing,” ​she said. “By choosing to walk away from the table, the United States effectively becomes a rogue nation when it comes to matters of climate change, human rights and global leadership in general.”­

Dr Tara Garnett from the Food Climate Research Network told us: "Food systems play an essential role in delivering on the Paris Agreement's targets, as they contribute with about a third of global emissions. Research clearly shows that reducing emissions including by fostering more sustainable and healthy eating patterns will bring important win-win opportunities, reducing healthcare costs while providing security for future generations."

'Trump will not stop the world moving forward'

Environmental academics also warned that the Trump administration’s decision would disadvantage the US.

Dr Friederike Otto, deputy director of the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University said:  “Having been at the COP in Marrakesh, when Trump was elected and when the reaction of all delegates was not dithering or despair but even stronger commitment to Paris, it seems very clear that Trump will not stop the world moving forward.”

This was echoed by Garnett. "Fortunately, change is possible even without Trump,"​ she said. "Farmers can produce differently. People can adopt more sustainable and healthy diets. Public institutions and organisations can improve procurement, local policymakers and companies can make sustainable and healthy food easier to access. We can waste less food. There are many opportunities for everyone – from producers through to consumers – to benefit by taking action on climate change."

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4 comments

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Climate Agreement

Posted by John Cronan,

Paris Climate Agreement is a treaty that was never approved by a Democratically controlled Congress, but signed by an "executive order" of the previous President. This notion that it is an International law that we have to abide by is certainly a joke. Why is the U.S. the primary funder for this effort? Where are the other countries to step up to the plate (Germany, Italy and France). China has the finances, but doesn't have to pay to play. They are out buying businesses around the world, but cannot pay for their pollution? Regardless, it is a bad deal, but yet the climate is very important. America needs to continue down the renewable path (solar, wind, tidal etc) as well as the development of greater efficienct automobiles and public transportation. I am glad to see the US remove ourselves from a bad Treaty. However before you send me flak, please read the Paris Agreement. Other nations such as India recognizes it as a bad deal to the U.S., so if Europe is not willing to renegotiate to make it fair for all, then we need to develop the technologies for efficiency in clean air and water on our own. The Liberal left (by the way I am certainly not a right wing conservative) would like to think that we are taking a step back, but we are not...time to stop providing funds to those countries that do not need the financing. Where is the global condemnation of those countries destroying their rain forest which are supposedly valuable carbon sinks?? As a scientist, this planet has a remarkable way of sequestering excess CO2. Folks should do a little research before making broad based accusation that the world is coming to an end. Did any of you ever think that plate tectonics might be providing the deglaciation that is occurring in Antarctica? There is so little that we know other than Chicken Little said the sky is falling???

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Believe me

Posted by Charles O. Slavens,

(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Thank you very much. Thank you.
The United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord...
Believe me, believe me
We have taken historic steps
Believe me, believe me
Creating hundreds of thousands of jobs
Believe me, believe me
We're working very hard for peace
Believe me, believe me
One by one we're keeping promises
Believe me, believe me
We're also working very hard for peace
Believe me, believe me
It is time to exit the Paris accord
Believe me, believe me
It is time to make America great again.
Believe me, believe me
(APPLAUSE)

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It is up to us to make the world great

Posted by Kenn Israel,

Despite the Presidents fulfillment of a campaign promise, it is up to us, those that make key decisions as both consumers and providers of goods and services to determine how we engage with our responsibility to our children and our future.

When a petulant child throws a tantrum the best strategy is to ignore their ranting and raving and proceed with a calm and responsible course. I suggest the same strategy here.
The president may ultimately realize that his positions and pronouncements are irrelevant to the greater journey of our civilization (or not). In either case we have a personal responsibility to do the right thing!

As an American I am embarrassed and disappointed, as a human and citizen of the world I am hopeful, confident, and ready to work hard on the correct path.

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