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As Trump Wavers on Climate Pact, Other Nations Are Defiant As Trump Exits Paris Agreement, Other Nations Are Defiant
(about 1 hour later)
UNITED NATIONS — The nations of the world put up a steely, almost defiant front this week as they waited to hear whether the United States would exit from the Paris climate accord. UNITED NATIONS — Leaders from around the world maintained a steely, defiant front on Thursday after President Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.
On Thursday afternoon, President Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from participation in the Paris Agreement, which calls on just about every country to take measures to address climate change. The Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel, called it “a brutal act.”
Before the announcement, United Nations envoys from rich and poor countries alike said they were sticking to the agreement, with or without the United States. New diplomatic alliances were sprouting, with Europeans, Indians and Chinese pledging to uphold their end of the deal. Even some of Washington’s most reliable allies warned that the United States would find itself isolated on the international stage. Miguel Arias Cañete, the European Union’s commissioner for climate, said Mr. Trump’s decision had “galvanized us.”
The French ambassador, Francois Delattre, said an exit by Washington would strike a greater blow to American credibility than it would to the Paris agreement itself. “By stepping aside, America would be sending a signal with potentially grave consequences,” he said. Mr. Trump took aim at the Green Climate Fund designed to help poor nations deal with the havoc of climate change, calling it a vast scheme to redistribute wealth. In fact, the accord leaves it to each country to decide how they will reduce emissions and how much they will contribute.
No matter what Washington does, said Ronald Jumeau, the United Nations ambassador from the Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, the rest of the world would simply have to do more. Mayors from Sweden to Australia pushed back. “What’s heartbreaking is the damage governments can do in a short time when they’re in power,” said Clover Moore, the mayor of Sydney. “But where national action falters, as we see in the U.S.A. tonight, we see more and more city governments stepping up to provide the leadership we urgently need.”
Mr. Jumeau said that countries like his — small islands warning for years about the threat of the hungry, rising seas — could not “afford to feel down or feel dismayed or depressed by any of this.” Argentine Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, told the Italian daily La Repubblica that a withdrawal from the agreement amounted to “a disaster for everyone.”
Before the announcement, United Nations envoys from rich and poor countries alike said they were sticking to the agreement, with or without the United States. New diplomatic alliances were forming, with Europe, India and China pledging to uphold their end of the deal.
Even some of Washington’s most reliable allies warned that the United States would find itself isolated on the international stage.
Mr. Arias Cañete insisted the Paris Agreement “will endure,” and he said the “world can continue to count on Europe for global leadership in the fight against climate change.”
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the United Nations special rapporteur for indigenous people, called Mr. Trump’s decision “shortsighted.”
“We are already seeing climate change destroy lives, livelihoods and entire communities. While indigenous peoples are often the first to feel these effects because of where we live, the entire planet will suffer as a result of history’s largest emitter retreating on climate change.”
Earlier in the week, Ronald Jumeau, the United Nations ambassador from the Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, said that an American exit from the deal would mean the rest of the world would simply have to do more.
Mr. Jumeau said that countries like his — small islands warning for years about the threat of rising seas — could not “afford to feel down or feel dismayed or depressed by any of this.”
He added, “It’s not about who’s leaving, it’s about who’s staying.”He added, “It’s not about who’s leaving, it’s about who’s staying.”
Premier Li Keqiang of China, in Berlin for meetings with Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Thursday that his country remained committed to the fight against climate change and to participating in international efforts for a greener world. Premier Li Keqiang of China, in Berlin for meetings with Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Thursday before Mr. Trump’s decision that his country remained committed to the fight against climate change and to participating in international efforts for a greener world.
China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, stands to gain international credit for standing by the Paris Agreement, but it would not be able to fill the void on its own if the United States abandoned the treaty.China, the world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide, stands to gain international credit for standing by the Paris Agreement, but it would not be able to fill the void on its own if the United States abandoned the treaty.
“China will continue to uphold its commitments to the Paris climate agreement,” Mr. Li said, confirming a position his country agreed to alongside the United States in 2014, in what proved to be a watershed moment for the ultimate passage of the landmark accord the following year.“China will continue to uphold its commitments to the Paris climate agreement,” Mr. Li said, confirming a position his country agreed to alongside the United States in 2014, in what proved to be a watershed moment for the ultimate passage of the landmark accord the following year.
“Step by step, and very arduously, together with other countries, we will work toward the goals set” by global leaders in 2015, Mr. Li said.
Ms. Merkel, who welcomed the Chinese commitment as “encouraging,” has been a leader in the global push for climate action since 1992, when she played a crucial international role in the passage of the world’s first climate treaty, the Kyoto Protocol.Ms. Merkel, who welcomed the Chinese commitment as “encouraging,” has been a leader in the global push for climate action since 1992, when she played a crucial international role in the passage of the world’s first climate treaty, the Kyoto Protocol.
She pointed to future cooperation between Brussels and Beijing, making clear the similar intention in Europe to move ahead with potential partners to fill any vacuum created by Washington’s absence.She pointed to future cooperation between Brussels and Beijing, making clear the similar intention in Europe to move ahead with potential partners to fill any vacuum created by Washington’s absence.
Ms. Merkel and India’s leader, Narendra Modi, pledged their support for the climate accord during meetings in Berlin on Wednesday.Ms. Merkel and India’s leader, Narendra Modi, pledged their support for the climate accord during meetings in Berlin on Wednesday.
In Moscow, a spokesman for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Dmitri S. Peskov, said that Russia “thinks highly” of the Paris Agreement, The Associated Press reported, adding that there was no viable alternative and that putting it in place effectively would depend on “the key signatories.” The Paris Agreement entered into force in the General Assembly hall last November, just days before the American presidential election. And it was at the United Nations this week that the isolation of the United States was palpable.
The Paris agreement entered into force in the General Assembly hall last November, just days before the American presidential election. And it was here this week that the isolation of the United States was palpable.
Several Western diplomats said they could not fathom why the White House would join the tiny clique of nations — like Syria and Nicaragua — that had not signed the accord. Speaking anonymously per diplomatic protocol, one longtime ally called the prospect of a withdrawal “selfish.” Another called it “arrogant.” The last time the United States’ standing had fallen so low was during its invasion of Iraq, several said.Several Western diplomats said they could not fathom why the White House would join the tiny clique of nations — like Syria and Nicaragua — that had not signed the accord. Speaking anonymously per diplomatic protocol, one longtime ally called the prospect of a withdrawal “selfish.” Another called it “arrogant.” The last time the United States’ standing had fallen so low was during its invasion of Iraq, several said.
“Humanity is at a fork in the road,” said Kai Sauer, the ambassador from Finland. “One hundred and ninety countries going on one path, and the United States, Syria, Nicaragua going on another? It seems a bit strange. This definitely also changes how we are looking at the United States.”“Humanity is at a fork in the road,” said Kai Sauer, the ambassador from Finland. “One hundred and ninety countries going on one path, and the United States, Syria, Nicaragua going on another? It seems a bit strange. This definitely also changes how we are looking at the United States.”
The secretary general, Antonio Guterres, who has carefully avoided any direct criticism of the United States — the world body’s single largest funder — said pointedly this week that voters everywhere should think about the future when they cast their ballots. “When you vote, think about your grandchildren,” he said.The secretary general, Antonio Guterres, who has carefully avoided any direct criticism of the United States — the world body’s single largest funder — said pointedly this week that voters everywhere should think about the future when they cast their ballots. “When you vote, think about your grandchildren,” he said.
Jane J. Chigiyal, the ambassador from the Pacific island nation of Micronesia, said her people were already feeling the acute impact. She called sea rise “an existential issue.”Jane J. Chigiyal, the ambassador from the Pacific island nation of Micronesia, said her people were already feeling the acute impact. She called sea rise “an existential issue.”
“Our contribution to this problem, this challenge, is very small,” she said. “Yet we will continue to do our part.”“Our contribution to this problem, this challenge, is very small,” she said. “Yet we will continue to do our part.”
Already, the United States is likely to miss the pledges that it made just last year because of policies set in motion by the Trump administration. So who can make up the difference? Perhaps the biggest surprise comes from India, which just a couple of years ago insisted that it needed to burn much more coal in order to lift its people out of poverty.Already, the United States is likely to miss the pledges that it made just last year because of policies set in motion by the Trump administration. So who can make up the difference? Perhaps the biggest surprise comes from India, which just a couple of years ago insisted that it needed to burn much more coal in order to lift its people out of poverty.
Since then, India has sharply slowed the expansion of its coal-fired plants, and although coal use will most certainly rise, according to experts, the Indian government has said that in another 10 years, it may not need to build any more coal plants at all.Since then, India has sharply slowed the expansion of its coal-fired plants, and although coal use will most certainly rise, according to experts, the Indian government has said that in another 10 years, it may not need to build any more coal plants at all.
Navroz K. Dubash, a climate change expert with the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, said planned coal projects were struggling to obtain financing in India because of uncertainty over the regulatory environment, and most were unlikely to get off the ground.Navroz K. Dubash, a climate change expert with the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi, said planned coal projects were struggling to obtain financing in India because of uncertainty over the regulatory environment, and most were unlikely to get off the ground.
Solar and wind power prices have fallen sharply, making them far more competitive sources of energy for a poor country. And India has said it aimed to sell only electric cars by 2030.Solar and wind power prices have fallen sharply, making them far more competitive sources of energy for a poor country. And India has said it aimed to sell only electric cars by 2030.
“I think that compared to what might have been, and what expectations of a few years ago were, this is a good-news story,” Mr. Dubash said. However, he cautioned that although India was prioritizing renewable energy, it would most certainly also continue to burn more coal.“I think that compared to what might have been, and what expectations of a few years ago were, this is a good-news story,” Mr. Dubash said. However, he cautioned that although India was prioritizing renewable energy, it would most certainly also continue to burn more coal.
If Mr. Trump keeps the United States in the deal, but downgrades the pledges his predecessor made, it poses an equally potent danger, legal scholars say. It could lead others to downgrade their pledges, too — or just not rush to meet them so fast.
“It will be impossible, and indeed inequitable, to press countries like India, struggling with enduring energy access, development and poverty challenges, to stay the course, while the U.S. is legally allowed to downgrade its NDC,” Lavanya Rajamani, a lawyer based in India who specializes in climate law, using the shorthand for nationally determined contribution, wrote in a blog post for the European Journal of International Law.
After his meetings in Berlin, President Li will head to Brussels for a summit meeting with European Union leaders. They are expected to announce a number of measures deepening joint cooperation on climate protection.After his meetings in Berlin, President Li will head to Brussels for a summit meeting with European Union leaders. They are expected to announce a number of measures deepening joint cooperation on climate protection.
“The E.U. and China recognize the importance of developing global free trade and investment, and promoting the multilateral rule-based system to allow the full development of the low greenhouse gas emission economy with all its benefits,” reads the text of a joint statement on climate change and clean energy that the Europeans and Chinese are expected to announce on Friday.
In a message apparently aimed directly at Mr. Trump, the Europeans and the Chinese were also expected to “call on all parties to uphold the Paris agreement” and “to strengthen efforts over time, in accordance with the purpose and provisions of the agreement,” according to the statement, which was seen Wednesday night by The New York Times.
If the United States does withdraw, “the system of global climate governance won’t totally collapse, but it will be shaken,” said Zhang Haibin, a professor at Peking University who studies international environmental politics.If the United States does withdraw, “the system of global climate governance won’t totally collapse, but it will be shaken,” said Zhang Haibin, a professor at Peking University who studies international environmental politics.
“The international community may expect China to play a leading role,” he said. “But in my view, China doesn’t have the capacity to single-handedly play the role of global hero. Instead, we’ll need to work closely with the European Union and the Basic countries,” he said, referring to a negotiating bloc that includes Brazil, South Africa, India and China.“The international community may expect China to play a leading role,” he said. “But in my view, China doesn’t have the capacity to single-handedly play the role of global hero. Instead, we’ll need to work closely with the European Union and the Basic countries,” he said, referring to a negotiating bloc that includes Brazil, South Africa, India and China.
“Collective leadership will be more important,” he said.“Collective leadership will be more important,” he said.