Momentum has continued to grow daily within the administration of U.S. president, Donald Trump, which is considering the idea of withdrawing the country from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Reactions are however trailing the much-talked-about development, whose outcome observers consider crucial to the future of the global treaty that has so far been ratified by 144 countries.
U.S.-based not-for-profit environmental organisation, 350.org, has expressed reservations over the possibility of U.S. dumping the pact.
Executive Director of 350.org, May Boeve, states: “Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement would be a crime against the future. With the climate crisis unfolding all around us, it’s almost unfathomable to imagine an administration so warped by climate denial that they would trade away the future of our planet to protect a few fossil fuel billionaires.
“The Trump Administration doesn’t represent the vast majority of the U.S. public that supports Paris, nor the cities, states and institutions that will continue to push our economy away from fossil fuels and towards a 100% clean energy future that works for all. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in the Peoples Climate March last weekend to call for climate, jobs and justice. Those are the voices in the United States that the rest of the world should listen to and their message is clear: keep moving.”
Global Programme Director of 350.org, Payal Parekh, adds: “If the United States exits the agreement, it will be up to the rest of the world to fill the gap. That means that not only other countries will need to step up, but also cities, institutions, and all of us.
“Efforts like this month’s Global Divestment Mobilisation, which is pushing institutions to cut their ties with the fossil fuel industry, are now more important than ever. The rest of the world can’t be dragged back by a fossil fuel industry puppet in the White House, we must move forward with the transition to 100% clean and renewable energy for all.”
