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| Paris climate agreement: world reacts as Trump pulls out of global accord – live | Paris climate agreement: world reacts as Trump pulls out of global accord – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.23am BST | |
| 03:23 | |
| Japan: Paris 'critical' to tackling climate change | |
| Justin McCurry | |
| Japan’s foreign ministry has described the US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement as “regrettable”. | |
| “Climate change requires a concerted effort by the whole of the international community,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday morning. “Japan believes the leadership of the developed countries to be of great importance, and the steady implementation of the Paris agreement is critical in this regard. | |
| “As Japan was hoping to work with the United States within the framework of the Paris agreement, the recent announcement by the US administration on its withdrawal ... is regrettable.” | |
| The statement pointed out that the US was the world’s second largest emitter of the greenhouse gases, but possessed the technical knowhow to address climate change. | |
| “Japan hopes to explore ways in which it can cooperate with the United States so as to effectively address climate change issues.” | |
| Tokyo said it would work with other parties to the Paris agreement to ensure its “steady and full implementation. Through such efforts, Japan will vigorously tackle this important issue of climate change.” | |
| 3.16am BST | |
| 03:16 | |
| Refugees International has said in a statement it is “dismayed and deeply alarmed” by the decision to pull out of the Paris accord, given the impact of climate change on displacement and humanitarian crises. | |
| The hundreds of millions of people across the globe who live in low-lying coastal areas and river deltas are already exposed to floods, storms, and rising sea levels. In other parts of the world, more frequent and severe droughts are undermining food security. | |
| #ParisAgreement withdrawal: decision to renege on commitments condemns future generations to less stable world. https://t.co/STmLQj3pDN pic.twitter.com/2LRRBTulRv | |
| The US’ decision to renege on its commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions compounds the devastating impact of its severe cuts to humanitarian funding, says RI, meaning it is not only “doing less to prevent human suffering but to alleviate it as well”. | |
| RI’s climate displacement program manager, Alice Thomas, said Trump’s decision would be felt most keenly by people in “the poorest and least stable regions of the world”. | |
| “It means America walking away from its global leadership role and leaving the door open to irreversible and catastrophic effects that will touch every aspect of our lives at home and abroad.” | |
| 3.08am BST | |
| 03:08 | |
| Michael Slezak | |
| Yesterday, just before Trump announced the US would withdraw, Australia’s The Climate Institute released polling on what Australians think the country should do in the case of the US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. | |
| The majority – 61% – thought Australia should work harder with other countries to achieve the goals of Paris, if the US withdrew. | |
| Another 26% thought Australia should maintain its current position. | |
| There were, however, a full 12% of respondents who thought Australia should follow Trump’s lead. | |
| Acting CEO of The Climate Institute, Olivia Kember, said in a statement: “Along with the leaders of EU nations, China, India, major global businesses and investors, Australian citizens recognise that it’s in our own interest to stay in the Paris Agreement and make it work.” | |
| 3.04am BST | |
| 03:04 | |
| Following our earlier report on the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson’s upcoming visit to New Zealand, the prime minister has released a statement: | |
| “The Prime Minister and Secretary Tillerson will discuss a range of issues including trade, regional security, the fight against terror and, as the Prime Minister has said, he will register New Zealand’s disappointment at the US decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement. | |
| “New Zealand remains absolutely committed to meeting our own targets. The clear message from around the world is that the global community will press ahead with the Paris agenda and we will play our part.” | |
| Protests are planned for Tillerson’s visit to Wellington on Tuesday. | |
| 2.59am BST | |
| 02:59 | |
| Trump's climate speech annotated and analysed | |
| My colleague, Guardian US’ environment reporter Oliver Milman, has sifted through the statements Trump made in his speech, noting on the rather casual caveat he slipped in: that the US will renegotiate this pact, or maybe some other pact, aimed at ensuring the future liveability of the planet. But if it doesn’t work out, that’s OK. | |
| Check out Ollie’s point-by-point analysis below: | |
| 2.52am BST | |
| 02:52 | |
| Fox News host: Trump called me for advice | |
| Media Matters has shared a clip from Thursday’s edition of Fox News’ The Five, in which Kimberly Guilfoyle says Trump called her for advice earlier that morning. | |
| NEW: Before withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, Trump consulted with Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle https://t.co/dAXqASprSN pic.twitter.com/M4plQ5Q8ex | |
| Guilfoyle’s revelation that the president called her at 8am (“it said unknown. I thought it was Fox News”) took even her co-hosts by surprise, as the below transcript shows: | |
| KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE: I don’t think this is a deal that anybody should be crying about. Like we said, it’s non-binding, and the United States is already a clean energy, oil and gas leader. So, we can keep doing what we’re doing, we can keep reducing our emissions. Why would we in fact put ourselves at an economic disadvantage, giving and subsidising an economic windfall to other countries, in sort of a climate redistribution of wealth scheme? It makes no sense to me. | |
| I think he did the brave and courageous thing, and in fact, I told him that this morning at 8AM, when he called. And I spoke to him about it, and this was something very much so on his mind, but he seemed like... | |
| GREG GUTFELD: Wait a second, who called you? | |
| GUILFOYLE: The president. | |
| GUTFELD: Why? | |
| DANA PERINO: To ask about climate change? | |
| GUTFELD: Why did he call you? | |
| GUILFOYLE: Climate change, taxes. The Five. | |
| GUTFELD: I think that you buried the lede here. | |
| PERINO: You just tried to slip that in there, just like maybe it happens all the time. | |
| GUTFELD: I know: ‘yeah, the president called me at 8 in the morning’. | |
| GUILFOYLE: It said “unknown,” I thought it was Fox News. But then he said he loves The Five – “terrific show” – and said to say hello to all of you. | |
| 2.48am BST | 2.48am BST |
| 02:48 | 02:48 |
| A group of Filipino activists have protested the then-impending withdrawal of the US from the Paris agreement at the US Embassy in Manila. The Manila Climate Rebel Alliance called for a global stand to be made against “Trump the Hutt and his fellow fossil fuel gangsters”. | A group of Filipino activists have protested the then-impending withdrawal of the US from the Paris agreement at the US Embassy in Manila. The Manila Climate Rebel Alliance called for a global stand to be made against “Trump the Hutt and his fellow fossil fuel gangsters”. |
| Climate Jedis protest at US Emb Manila vs Pres Trump's decision to withdraw from Paris climate accord. Credit: Manila Climate Rebel Alliance pic.twitter.com/xKjKdvo2aC | Climate Jedis protest at US Emb Manila vs Pres Trump's decision to withdraw from Paris climate accord. Credit: Manila Climate Rebel Alliance pic.twitter.com/xKjKdvo2aC |
| 2.40am BST | 2.40am BST |
| 02:40 | 02:40 |
| Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on Trump to reconsider his decision to leave the Paris accord in a 2.5-minute video: | Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called on Trump to reconsider his decision to leave the Paris accord in a 2.5-minute video: |
| BREAKING: Arnold Schwarzenegger has a blunt message for Donald Trump. #ParisAgreement pic.twitter.com/YI8fcxEeox | BREAKING: Arnold Schwarzenegger has a blunt message for Donald Trump. #ParisAgreement pic.twitter.com/YI8fcxEeox |
| “One man cannot destroy our progress. One man can’t stop our clean energy revolution. And one man can’t go back in time. Only I can do that. ... | “One man cannot destroy our progress. One man can’t stop our clean energy revolution. And one man can’t go back in time. Only I can do that. ... |
| “Mr President, I know that it can be easier and more comfortable to look backwards. ... But some of us know what a clean energy future looks like and it isn’t scary. ... | “Mr President, I know that it can be easier and more comfortable to look backwards. ... But some of us know what a clean energy future looks like and it isn’t scary. ... |
| “The dirty energy future with asthma, emphysema and cancer is much, much more terrifying.” | “The dirty energy future with asthma, emphysema and cancer is much, much more terrifying.” |
| 2.33am BST | 2.33am BST |
| 02:33 | 02:33 |
| Republican politicians and representatives of the coal industry have cheered Trump’s action. | Republican politicians and representatives of the coal industry have cheered Trump’s action. |
| “President Trump’s courageous decision to exit the Paris Accord recognises that the US is not legally bound to an Obama-era agreement that set unrealistic emissions targets at the expense of billions of American taxpayer dollars without the approval of Congress,” said Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who joined nine other states in urging Trump to leave the agreement. | “President Trump’s courageous decision to exit the Paris Accord recognises that the US is not legally bound to an Obama-era agreement that set unrealistic emissions targets at the expense of billions of American taxpayer dollars without the approval of Congress,” said Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who joined nine other states in urging Trump to leave the agreement. |
| AG Paxton Praises President Trump’s Decision to Exit Paris Accord https://t.co/Xf0uR0X9Z2 | AG Paxton Praises President Trump’s Decision to Exit Paris Accord https://t.co/Xf0uR0X9Z2 |
| Last week, 22 Republican senators had written to the president urging him to “make a clean break” from the Paris deal. The letter was drafted by Wyoming’s John Barrasso, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and public works, and Oklahoma’s Jim Inhofe, a longtime climate change denier and senior member of that committee. | Last week, 22 Republican senators had written to the president urging him to “make a clean break” from the Paris deal. The letter was drafted by Wyoming’s John Barrasso, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and public works, and Oklahoma’s Jim Inhofe, a longtime climate change denier and senior member of that committee. |
| Tom McCarthy and Lauren Gambino of Guardian US have broken down the 22 signatories’ interests in the oil, gas and coal industries and found a sum total of nearly US $10.7m over the past three election cycles. | Tom McCarthy and Lauren Gambino of Guardian US have broken down the 22 signatories’ interests in the oil, gas and coal industries and found a sum total of nearly US $10.7m over the past three election cycles. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.35am BST | at 2.35am BST |
| 2.14am BST | 2.14am BST |
| 02:14 | 02:14 |
| Michael Slezak | Michael Slezak |
| Political scientist Luke Kemp from the Australian National University has argued that not only is the US’ decision to pull out of the Paris agreement not as catastrophic as reported, there could even be some benefits to emerge. | Political scientist Luke Kemp from the Australian National University has argued that not only is the US’ decision to pull out of the Paris agreement not as catastrophic as reported, there could even be some benefits to emerge. |
| One is the possibility for parties to the agreement to develop climate trade measures, such as border tax adjustments that institute a carbon tax on US imports. Similar measures were parts of other international agreements, including the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which successfully reduced the world’s reliance on ozone layer depleting substances. | One is the possibility for parties to the agreement to develop climate trade measures, such as border tax adjustments that institute a carbon tax on US imports. Similar measures were parts of other international agreements, including the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which successfully reduced the world’s reliance on ozone layer depleting substances. |
| Kemp also expressed hope that the withdrawal of the US would motivate other large powers like the EU and China to show stronger leadership – as certainly looks possible from the response of world leaders to Trump’s announcement. | Kemp also expressed hope that the withdrawal of the US would motivate other large powers like the EU and China to show stronger leadership – as certainly looks possible from the response of world leaders to Trump’s announcement. |
| But the risk of the US sabotaging action on climate change from outside the Paris agreement – for example, by cancelling climate financing for the developing world – certainly remains. Writing in The Conversation, Kemp concludes: | But the risk of the US sabotaging action on climate change from outside the Paris agreement – for example, by cancelling climate financing for the developing world – certainly remains. Writing in The Conversation, Kemp concludes: |
| Wanting the US to remain is a short-sighted, knee-jerk reaction. The international community should be much more worried about the real domestic actions of the US, rather than whether it is symbolically cooperating internationally... Policy, not participation, needs to be the focus of criticism. Otherwise Paris will prove itself to be nothing more than a diplomatic fig leaf | Wanting the US to remain is a short-sighted, knee-jerk reaction. The international community should be much more worried about the real domestic actions of the US, rather than whether it is symbolically cooperating internationally... Policy, not participation, needs to be the focus of criticism. Otherwise Paris will prove itself to be nothing more than a diplomatic fig leaf |
| 2.07am BST | 2.07am BST |
| 02:07 | 02:07 |
| Trump's full speech on dumping of 'Draconian' accord | Trump's full speech on dumping of 'Draconian' accord |
| “As president, I can put no other consideration before the wellbeing of American citizens. The Paris climate accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers – who I love – and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories, and vastly diminished economic production.” | “As president, I can put no other consideration before the wellbeing of American citizens. The Paris climate accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers – who I love – and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories, and vastly diminished economic production.” |
| You can read Trump’s speech in full here. | You can read Trump’s speech in full here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.34am BST | at 2.34am BST |
| 2.03am BST | 2.03am BST |
| 02:03 | 02:03 |
| Michael Slezak | Michael Slezak |
| Amid all the doom and gloom, it’s worth noting not all environmentalists think Trump’s withdrawal from Paris is so bad for the world. | Amid all the doom and gloom, it’s worth noting not all environmentalists think Trump’s withdrawal from Paris is so bad for the world. |
| It’s undoubtedly a hit for US credibility in future international agreements, but political scientist Luke Kemp from the Australian National University published an analysis in the journal Nature Climate Change just last week arguing the world is better off with a Trump-led US out of the agreement. | It’s undoubtedly a hit for US credibility in future international agreements, but political scientist Luke Kemp from the Australian National University published an analysis in the journal Nature Climate Change just last week arguing the world is better off with a Trump-led US out of the agreement. |
| In a nutshell, Kemp’s argument is that Trump can do more damage to international climate action from within the agreement than he can outside of it. The US was likely to increase its emissions regardless of whether it remained in the agreement, he says – especially now that Trump abandoned Obama’s Clean Power Plan. | In a nutshell, Kemp’s argument is that Trump can do more damage to international climate action from within the agreement than he can outside of it. The US was likely to increase its emissions regardless of whether it remained in the agreement, he says – especially now that Trump abandoned Obama’s Clean Power Plan. |
| Paris may forfeit legitimacy due to the loss of a major emitter, but it is equally likely that its legitimacy would have been grievously injured by the US blatantly violating the spirit and purpose of the agreement. | Paris may forfeit legitimacy due to the loss of a major emitter, but it is equally likely that its legitimacy would have been grievously injured by the US blatantly violating the spirit and purpose of the agreement. |
| 1.58am BST | 1.58am BST |
| 01:58 | 01:58 |
| Hillary Clinton: decision to pull out 'a historic mistake' | Hillary Clinton: decision to pull out 'a historic mistake' |
| Echoing the earlier criticism of her husband, Hillary Clinton has tweeted her condemnation of Trump’s decision, calling it a “historic mistake ... [that] leaves American workers & families behind”. | Echoing the earlier criticism of her husband, Hillary Clinton has tweeted her condemnation of Trump’s decision, calling it a “historic mistake ... [that] leaves American workers & families behind”. |
| A historic mistake. The world is moving forward together on climate change. Paris withdrawal leaves American workers & families behind. | A historic mistake. The world is moving forward together on climate change. Paris withdrawal leaves American workers & families behind. |
| Clinton has been increasingly vocal in her criticism of Trump as she ramps up her public appearances after several months of laying low following her bruising defeat in the presidential election last year. | Clinton has been increasingly vocal in her criticism of Trump as she ramps up her public appearances after several months of laying low following her bruising defeat in the presidential election last year. |
| 1.54am BST | 1.54am BST |
| 01:54 | 01:54 |
| Al Gore: withdrawal from Paris agreement 'reckless and indefensible' | Al Gore: withdrawal from Paris agreement 'reckless and indefensible' |
| The former vice-president has released a scathing statement: | The former vice-president has released a scathing statement: |
| Removing the United States from the Paris Agreement is a reckless and indefensible action. It undermines America’s standing in the world and threatens to damage humanity’s ability to solve the climate crisis in time. But make no mistake: if President Trump won’t lead, the American people will. | Removing the United States from the Paris Agreement is a reckless and indefensible action. It undermines America’s standing in the world and threatens to damage humanity’s ability to solve the climate crisis in time. But make no mistake: if President Trump won’t lead, the American people will. |
| “Civic leaders, mayors, governors, CEOs, investors and the majority of the business community will take up this challenge. We are in the middle of a clean energy revolution that no single person or group can stop. President Trump’s decision is profoundly in conflict with what the majority of Americans want from our president; but no matter what he does, we will ensure that our inevitable transition to a clean energy economy continues. | “Civic leaders, mayors, governors, CEOs, investors and the majority of the business community will take up this challenge. We are in the middle of a clean energy revolution that no single person or group can stop. President Trump’s decision is profoundly in conflict with what the majority of Americans want from our president; but no matter what he does, we will ensure that our inevitable transition to a clean energy economy continues. |
| Last week, Gore had said in Cannes there was an “excellent chance” that Trump would surprise many by deciding to stay in the Paris agreement – but even withdrawing would not slow the momentum of the climate movement. He pointed to Atlanta, Georgia’s recent commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2035. | Last week, Gore had said in Cannes there was an “excellent chance” that Trump would surprise many by deciding to stay in the Paris agreement – but even withdrawing would not slow the momentum of the climate movement. He pointed to Atlanta, Georgia’s recent commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2035. |
| He did express concern that other nations might follow suit: | He did express concern that other nations might follow suit: |
| “The Paris agreement has an historic significance of its own. And if the largest economy in the world were to withdraw, it would present a risk that some other countries might use that as an excuse. So it’s important that we stay in.” | “The Paris agreement has an historic significance of its own. And if the largest economy in the world were to withdraw, it would present a risk that some other countries might use that as an excuse. So it’s important that we stay in.” |
| Gore’s new documentary, An Inconvenient Sequel, opened the Sundance festival at the start of this year. | Gore’s new documentary, An Inconvenient Sequel, opened the Sundance festival at the start of this year. |
| 1.44am BST | 1.44am BST |
| 01:44 | 01:44 |
| Elle Hunt | Elle Hunt |
| Thanks Sam – I’m taking over the reins of our rolling coverage of Trump’s Paris Agreement announcement from Australia, where Guardian Australia’s climate blogger Graham Readfearn has joined the global chorus of condemnation: | Thanks Sam – I’m taking over the reins of our rolling coverage of Trump’s Paris Agreement announcement from Australia, where Guardian Australia’s climate blogger Graham Readfearn has joined the global chorus of condemnation: |
| Make no mistake here. | Make no mistake here. |
| The foundation for Trump’s dismissal of the Paris deal – and for the people who pushed him the hardest to do it – is the rejection of the science linking fossil-fuel burning to dangerous climate change. | The foundation for Trump’s dismissal of the Paris deal – and for the people who pushed him the hardest to do it – is the rejection of the science linking fossil-fuel burning to dangerous climate change. |
| Or rather, Trump’s rejection of the Paris deal was built on the flimsy, cherry-picked and long-debunked talking points of an industry built to manufacture doubt about climate science. Once you fall for those arguments, making an economic case suddenly feels plausible. | Or rather, Trump’s rejection of the Paris deal was built on the flimsy, cherry-picked and long-debunked talking points of an industry built to manufacture doubt about climate science. Once you fall for those arguments, making an economic case suddenly feels plausible. |