US likely to pull out of Paris climate deal, Trump says decision to be announced tonight

President Donald Trump will announce his decision on whether to withdraw from the Paris climate deal at 3 PM on Thursday (midnight IST), as media reports said that a US exit was likely.

Earlier speaking to reporters on Wednesday on whether he plans to withdraw the US from the landmark global agreement, a major foreign policy legacy of his predecessor Barack Obama, Trump said, "You’re going to find out very soon.” When pressed further on the withdrawal, he added, “I’m hearing from a lot of people, both ways. Both ways.”

I will be announcing my decision on Paris Accord, Thursday at 3:00 P.M. The White House Rose Garden. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2017

Two major news outlets—Axis and CBS News—reported that the US President had made a decision to withdraw from the climate change agreement and the administration has been informing world leaders about it.

According to US senators, leaving the climate pact would result in strengthening India and China’s economy at the cost of America.

Read | Donald Trump to make final decision on Paris climate deal next week

“By succumbing to pressure from administrator Scott Pruitt and other advisors, President Trump is ceding the future to the Germans, the Chinese, the Indians, and other nations rather than having the United States continue to lead the world on clean energy solutions,” said Democrat Ed Markey.

Another Democratic Senator, Jeff Markley, tweeted that “An American retreat is great for the economies of China and India, and terrible for US economy.”

Earlier yesterday, a White House official said Trump was expected to pull out of the deal, but added that there could be “caveats.”

European leaders pushed Trump to stay in the Paris pact during his recent overseas trip. His advisors are divided on the move.

Several Democrats have spoken out against the “misguided” step saying it could potentially damage not only the environment, but also the economy.

“If President Trump decides to remove the United States from this agreement, it will weaken our standing globally - allowing other countries to adopt leading roles when it comes to our shared responsibility to protect our planet for future generations,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley.

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In a tweet, Trump had said he would be announcing his decision on the 2015 deal in the next few days.

“I will be announcing my decision on the Paris Accord over the next few days. Make America great again!,” Trump said.

“Details on just how exactly the US will be withdrawing are still being worked out by a team that includes EPA administrator Scott Pruitt,” CBS News reported.

“A full, formal withdrawal could take up to three years to execute, unravelling one of former President Barack Obama’s major achievements in office to reduce the impacts of climate change,” it added.

The Pruitt team is deciding on whether to initiate a full, formal withdrawal which could take three years or exit the underlying United Nations climate change treaty, which would be faster but more extreme, Axis reported.