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| New UN climate chief: 'Action on warming unstoppable' | New UN climate chief: 'Action on warming unstoppable' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The UN’s new climate chief admits says she’s worried about President Donald Trump – but confident that action to curb climate change is unstoppable. | |
| President Trump said he’d withdraw from the UN climate deal and stop funding the UN’s clean energy programme. | President Trump said he’d withdraw from the UN climate deal and stop funding the UN’s clean energy programme. |
| But former Mexican diplomat Patricia Espinosa told BBC News that the delay in any firm announcement suggests the issue is still unresolved. | But former Mexican diplomat Patricia Espinosa told BBC News that the delay in any firm announcement suggests the issue is still unresolved. |
| She travels to US this weekend to try and meet the new US secretary of state. | She travels to US this weekend to try and meet the new US secretary of state. |
| 'World will carry on' | 'World will carry on' |
| Ms Espinosa said it would be more damaging for the US to leave the on-going climate talks process altogether than to stop funding the clean energy programme. | Ms Espinosa said it would be more damaging for the US to leave the on-going climate talks process altogether than to stop funding the clean energy programme. |
| The US pays approximately $4m towards this programme every year - and often an extra $2m in voluntary funding. | The US pays approximately $4m towards this programme every year - and often an extra $2m in voluntary funding. |
| But she said the rest of the world would carry on tackling climate change without the US, if necessary. | But she said the rest of the world would carry on tackling climate change without the US, if necessary. |
| She said China’s stated willingness to lead the world in curbing emissions might cause American diplomats to ponder the implications of allowing China a role of global moral leadership. | She said China’s stated willingness to lead the world in curbing emissions might cause American diplomats to ponder the implications of allowing China a role of global moral leadership. |
| “We are of course worried about rumours that the possibility of the US pulling out of the Paris agreement and the convention on climate change,” she said. | “We are of course worried about rumours that the possibility of the US pulling out of the Paris agreement and the convention on climate change,” she said. |
| “It would be very bad if there were a change of position in the US. That’s why I’m looking forwards to engaging with the US as a partner.” | “It would be very bad if there were a change of position in the US. That’s why I’m looking forwards to engaging with the US as a partner.” |
| She did not explain how the US would be able to remain within the Paris framework whilst scrapping action on its own emissions strategy that helps underpin that process. | She did not explain how the US would be able to remain within the Paris framework whilst scrapping action on its own emissions strategy that helps underpin that process. |
| Embracing green action | Embracing green action |
| But she drew hope from the vast number of firms and cities looking towards a low-carbon future – in the US and round the world: "A lot of US businesses are really going into the agenda of sustainability and some are making their own commitments in emissions reductions in their own operations." | But she drew hope from the vast number of firms and cities looking towards a low-carbon future – in the US and round the world: "A lot of US businesses are really going into the agenda of sustainability and some are making their own commitments in emissions reductions in their own operations." |
| “An incredible amount of cities have embarked on ambitious goals; some states like California have been for many years in the forefront of this agenda. | “An incredible amount of cities have embarked on ambitious goals; some states like California have been for many years in the forefront of this agenda. |
| “In International Petroleum Week, I was very encouraged to hear how much some of the oil and gas companies are realising that the future of their industries is in a transformation into clean energy companies - and they have embraced this in their own interest. | “In International Petroleum Week, I was very encouraged to hear how much some of the oil and gas companies are realising that the future of their industries is in a transformation into clean energy companies - and they have embraced this in their own interest. |
| “The transformation has started. I think it’s unstoppable.” | “The transformation has started. I think it’s unstoppable.” |
| Ms Espinosa smiled at the irony of dealing with Mr Trump as a Mexican, a woman, and someone who works in climate change. | Ms Espinosa smiled at the irony of dealing with Mr Trump as a Mexican, a woman, and someone who works in climate change. |
| She said her trip to the US would include meeting businesses and civil society groups and - hopefully - a senior member of the administration. She is anticipating a meeting with the new secretary of state Rex Tillerson. | She said her trip to the US would include meeting businesses and civil society groups and - hopefully - a senior member of the administration. She is anticipating a meeting with the new secretary of state Rex Tillerson. |
| The former CEO of the oil giant Exxon Mobil warned recently that climate change is a genuine risk, and said the US should stay at the table of UN talks. | The former CEO of the oil giant Exxon Mobil warned recently that climate change is a genuine risk, and said the US should stay at the table of UN talks. |
| Other nations have responded differently to the new situation presented by Mr Trump. China has offered to lead and India has surprised many with its new level of ambition. | Other nations have responded differently to the new situation presented by Mr Trump. China has offered to lead and India has surprised many with its new level of ambition. |
| Saudi Arabia has expressed support for a slower rate of decarbonisation and Russia - the fifth largest emitter - has not yet ratified the climate deal from Paris. | Saudi Arabia has expressed support for a slower rate of decarbonisation and Russia - the fifth largest emitter - has not yet ratified the climate deal from Paris. |
| Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin. | Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin. |