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U.S. NEWS Friday 2 June 2017

Trump pulling US from global climate pact, dismaying allies

By JILL COLVIN age rising 135 points for the
JULIE PACE day
Associated Press As for the mechanics of
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- withdrawal, international
dent Donald Trump de- treaties have a four-year
clared Thursday he was cooling off period from the
withdrawing the U.S. from time they go into effect.
the landmark Paris climate That means it could take
agreement, striking a ma- another three-and-half
jor blow to worldwide ef- years for the U.S. to formal-
forts to combat climate ly withdraw, though Trump
change and distancing promised to stop imple-
the country from many al- mentation immediately.
lies abroad. He said the Major U.S. allies, business
U.S. would try to re-enter leaders and even the
but only if it can get more Pope had urged the U.S.
favorable terms. to remain in the deal. The
Framing his decision as “a decision drew immedi-
reassertion of America’s ately backlash from cli-
sovereignty,” he said, “I mate activists and many
was elected to represent business leaders.The U.S. is
the citizens of Pittsburgh, Administration officials, from left, White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, Chief of Staff Re- the world’s second-largest
not Paris.” His decision end- ince Priebus, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, and Vice President Mike emitter of carbon, follow-
ed weeks of speculation, Pence, applaud as President Donald Trump announces that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris ing only China. Beijing,
some of it fueled by Trump climate change accord as he speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, June 1, however, has reaffirmed
himself and his Cabinet 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) its commitment to meet-
members. ing its targets under the
Under former President establish “an entirely new ing temperatures. Calcu- Americans in the long run.” Paris accord, recently
Barack Obama, the U.S. transaction” to get a better lations suggest withdrawal In fact, he said, sea level canceling construction of
had agreed under the ac- deal for the U.S. But he sug- could result in emissions of rise caused by unchecked about 100 coal-fired pow-
cord to reduce polluting gested re-entry was hardly up to 3 billion tons of ad- climate change could er plants and investing bil-
emissions by about 1.6 bil- a priority. “If we can, great. ditional carbon dioxide in mean that cities like his “will lions in massive wind and
lion tons by 2025. But the If we can’t, that’s fine,” he the air a year — enough to cease to exist.” solar projects. White House
targets were voluntary, said. melt ice sheets faster, raise Trump, however, argued aides have been divided
meaning the U.S. and the By abandoning the world’s seas higher and trigger the agreement had disad- on the question of staying
nearly 200 other nations in chief effort to slow the more extreme weather. vantaged the U.S. “to the or leaving the accord and
the agreement could alter tide of planetary warm- Trump’s decision marked exclusive benefit of other had been deliberating on
their commitments. ing, Trump was fulfilling a “a sad day for the global countries,” leaving Ameri- “caveats in the language”
Trump said that he would top campaign pledge. community,” said Miguel can businesses and tax- as late as Wednesday, one
begin negotiations to re- But he was also breaking Arias Canete, climate ac- payers to absorb the cost. official said. But Trump’s
enter the agreement or from many of America’s tion commissioner for the “This agreement is less statement was clear and
staunchest allies, who have European Union. about the climate and direct. So was opposi-
expressed alarm about At home in America, the more about other coun- tion from environmental
the decision. Several of his U.S. Conference of May- tries gaining a financial ad- groups, as expected.
top aides have opposed ors said it strongly opposed vantage over the United “Generations from now,
the action, too, as has his the decision and said may- States,” he said, claiming Americans will look back
daughter and adviser, ors will continue efforts to that other countries have at Donald Trump’s decision
Ivanka Trump. reduce greenhouse gas laughed at the U.S. for to leave the Paris Agree-
Scientists say Earth is likely emissions blamed for global agreeing to the terms.” ment as one of the most
to reach more dangerous warming. The group’s vice Investors seemed pleased, ignorant and dangerous
levels of warming sooner as president, New Orleans with stock prices, already actions ever taken by any
a result of the president’s Mayor Mitch Landrieu said up for the day, bumping President,” Sierra Club ex-
decision because America the action “is shortsighted higher as he spoke. The ecutive director Michael
contributes so much to ris- and will be devastating to Dow Jones industrial aver- Brune said in a statement.