United States President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of 2015 Paris agreement on Climate Change has left the world in anger and dismay. The leaders from across the globe have termed the decision ‘disappointing’, ‘seriously wrong’, ‘disheartening’ and a ‘historic error’.
Even as Trump called the agreement heavily biased in favour of China and India, the world leaders pledged to defend the agreement and not to backtrack in the fight against climate change.
Here is who said what in reaction to Trump’s decision to pull out of crucial Paris accord:
UN Chief Antonio Guterres
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed disappointment over President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Accord, saying he is confident all other parties to the ambitious pact will continue with their efforts to reduce the emissions.
“The decision by the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change is a major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote international security,” according to a statement read by Guterres’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric to reporters.
“The Secretary-General remains confident that all other parties to the Paris agreement will continue to demonstrate vision and leadership, along with very many cities, states and businesses in the United States and around the world by working for the low-carbon, resilient economic growth that will create quality jobs and markets for 21st century economic prosperity,” the statement by the UN Chief said.
Read | US President Trump pulls out of Paris Climate deal, says India's commitment is contingent on billions of dollars fund
Former US President Barack Obama
Barack Obama slammed his successor President Donald Trump for pulling out of the Paris climate deal, warning that the move would see the United States “reject the future” by not abiding by the agreement.
“Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got,” Obama said in a statement.
EU President Jean-Claude Juncker
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker lashed as “seriously wrong” US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate deal. Juncker tweeted that the withdrawal—announced by Trump in a highly anticipated statement from the White House rose Garden—was “a seriously wrong decision”.
In Germany, a statement issued by seven Social Democratic ministers in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s left-right coalition government said the United States “is harming itself, we Europeans and all the people of the world.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Donald Trump to express “his disappointment” with the US president’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord.
According to a readout of their conversation, Trudeau also conveyed his intention to continue working with international partners to address climate change.“While the US decision is disheartening, we remain inspired by the growing momentum around the world to combat climate change and transition to clean growth economies,” Trudeau said in a statement.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed “regret” at the decision, and called for a continuation of “climate policies which preserve our world.” Seven Social Democratic ministers in her coalition government said the United States “is harming itself, we Europeans and all the people of the world.”
French President Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said Donald Trump had made a historic error by abandoning the Paris climate agreement and invited US climate scientists and entrepreneurs to come and work in France.
Trump has “committed an error for the interests of his country and a mistake for the future of our planet,” Macron said on television, adding: “The United States has turned its back on the world.”
Referring to Trump’s idea of redrawing the 2015 accord, he said, “We will not in any way renegotiate an agreement that is less ambitious” than the present one. Macron also called on American “scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, committed citizens” to “come and work in France on concrete solutions for climate.”
“To those who are disappointed by the decision of the United States president, you will find a second homeland in France,” he promised. “France will not turn its back on Americans, France will not give up the fight,” he said.
Paris city hall said it would illuminate its building in green on Thursday “in a sign of disapproval” of Trump’s announcement and to recall the determination of cities around the world to fight climate change.
In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his country should not retreat from its actions on climate.
“Let’s not go backwards from the Paris Agreement,” he said on Twitter. “Italy is committed to reducing (carbon) emissions, to renewable energy, sustainable development.”
Environment groups
Among environment groups, Climate Action Network, said the withdrawal “signals that the Trump Administration is in total discord with both reality and the rest of the world.”
“Unfortunately, the first to suffer from this injudicious decision is the American people,” the group, an alliance of climate activists, said.
“This action is totally contrary to their best interests: their health, security, food supply, jobs and future.”
Friends of the Earth International said “pulling out of the Paris Agreement would make the US a rogue state on climate change. The rest of the world cannot let the US drag it down.”
(With Inputs from PTI)
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