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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)
5.45am BST
05:45
ACLU: withdrawal from Paris an 'assault on communities of colour'
Echoing the earlier points made by Refugees International, the American Civil Liberties Union has pointed out that “climate change doesn’t affect us all equally”.
Pulling out of the Paris Agreement would be a massive step back for racial justice, and an assault on communities of color across the U.S.
Drought, hurricanes and flooding will impact every American— but climate change doesn't affect us all equally.
Black and brown people are more likely to live near coal plants, and have higher asthma rates than white Americans do.
That disparity is only going to worsen in coming years, and it's why we must #ActOnClimate if we're serious about racial justice.
Though this has been derided in some (especially conservative) corners of Twitter, but the fact is that the impact of climate change on disadvantaged groups is well established.
A 2014 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said being in poverty made the impacts worse and part of preparing for the future was addressing inequality in society:
Climate-related hazards affect poor people’s lives directly through impacts on livelihoods, reductions in crop yields, or destruction of homes and indirectly through, for example, increased food prices and food insecurity. Observed positive effects for poor and marginalized people, which are limited and often indirect, include examples such as diversification of social networks and of agricultural practices.
5.37am BST
05:37
Meanwhile, in other Trump news:
5.25am BST
05:25
Republican Rick Santorum called on Trump to pull out of the Paris accord on CNN on Thursday morning, arguing against renewable energies as “not reliable, not consistent” on a panel with former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm.
He was ridiculed for this on social media.
Rick Santorum argues on CNN against solar because sometimes it's night.
Santorum explained that he was “sad to be criticized by the left for something as obvious” as solar energy being complicated by “clouds & darkness”.
Sad to be criticized by the left for something as obvious as solar (clouds & darkness) and wind (calm winds) are not reliable or consistent. https://t.co/tkNrTRbk1u
This didn’t really serve to ease the ridicule.
Maybe we should sent a ship to the sun to investigate. Make sure to do it at night when the sun is cooler.
GOD NO! That ship would plummet off the edge of the planet!
Santorum is a co-chair of Americans for Energy Security and Innovation, which seeks to reduce US dependence on foreign oil.
5.11am BST
05:11
Michael Slezak
As experts, environmentalists, business leaders and others condemn Trump’s announcement, others have argued the move is mostly symbolic.
Luke Kemp, economist and political scientist at the Australian National University, recently wrote a paper in Nature Climate Change, arguing that the world is better off with the US out of the Paris Agreement. We discussed his comments here and here.
In response to the move, Kemp has now added: “This is now a chance to forget about the US and for a critical mass of leaders to move ahead without them.”
He continued: “The announcement today does not impact US emissions or climate financing. In practical terms, it simply means that the US doesn’t need to put forward a new pledge every five years. Trump’s decision to withdraw does not tangibly effect US emissions or action. It does signal that he wants the US to become a technological fossil.”
Importantly, it could mean the US will not be able to act effectively to stifle international action: “...other countries are far less likely to accede to the demands of a withdrawing climate pariah.”
John Quiggin, an economist at the University of Queensland, argued along similar lines.
“The announcement itself is primarily symbolic, but other actions of the Trump administration mean that US emissions will decline more slowly than they should.
“However, the preliminary evidence is that this action will not be taken as a signal for other countries to follow, but rather as a further indication that the US has abandoned its leadership role in the US economy. The impact will be further reduced by the commitment of California and other state governments to pursue ambitious policies for emissions reductions.”
5.00am BST5.00am BST
05:0005:00
Michael SafiMichael Safi
The Indian government has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement, which came shortly after 1am local time, but at a forum last month India’s energy minister reaffirmed the south Asian giant’s commitment to the global climate agreement.The Indian government has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement, which came shortly after 1am local time, but at a forum last month India’s energy minister reaffirmed the south Asian giant’s commitment to the global climate agreement.
“The road from Paris to today has been somewhat bumpy,” Piyush Goyal said. “We will have to sort that out. But I’d like to reassure each one of you here today that India stands committed to its commitments made at Paris irrespective of what happens in the rest of the world.”“The road from Paris to today has been somewhat bumpy,” Piyush Goyal said. “We will have to sort that out. But I’d like to reassure each one of you here today that India stands committed to its commitments made at Paris irrespective of what happens in the rest of the world.”
An unnamed official also told Reuters this week the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, had assured German chancellor Angela Merkel on an official visit to Berlin that India would remain in the agreement regardless of Trump’s announcement.An unnamed official also told Reuters this week the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, had assured German chancellor Angela Merkel on an official visit to Berlin that India would remain in the agreement regardless of Trump’s announcement.
4.52am BST4.52am BST
04:5204:52
The world aligns on Paris – bar Syria, Nicaragua and er, the USThe world aligns on Paris – bar Syria, Nicaragua and er, the US
Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach City, has tweeted this map showing the three countries not part of the Paris agreement: the US, Syria and Nicaragua. “What a national embarrassment...”Robert Garcia, mayor of Long Beach City, has tweeted this map showing the three countries not part of the Paris agreement: the US, Syria and Nicaragua. “What a national embarrassment...”
The blue countries are all members of the #ParisAgreement - the U.S., Syria, and Nicaragua are not. What a national embarrassment... pic.twitter.com/JBSb34q1wsThe blue countries are all members of the #ParisAgreement - the U.S., Syria, and Nicaragua are not. What a national embarrassment... pic.twitter.com/JBSb34q1ws
But the map alone doesn’t tell the full story: Nicaragua has not signed onto the agreement because it doesn’t go far enough.But the map alone doesn’t tell the full story: Nicaragua has not signed onto the agreement because it doesn’t go far enough.
Slate reports that Paul Oquist, who represented the country at the Paris negotiations in 2015, believed that the agreement would fail because its commitments were not binding.Slate reports that Paul Oquist, who represented the country at the Paris negotiations in 2015, believed that the agreement would fail because its commitments were not binding.
“[We’re not going to submit because] voluntary responsibility is a path to failure,” Quist told a reporter from Climate Home in 2015. “We don’t want to be [an] accomplice to taking the world to 3 to 4 degrees and the death and destruction that represents.”“[We’re not going to submit because] voluntary responsibility is a path to failure,” Quist told a reporter from Climate Home in 2015. “We don’t want to be [an] accomplice to taking the world to 3 to 4 degrees and the death and destruction that represents.”
Oquist also said countries with the most emissions should take greater responsibility for tackling climate change. The US ranks second, behind China; Nicaragua ranks 131. According to the World Bank, it is already on track towards having 90% renewable energy by 2020.Oquist also said countries with the most emissions should take greater responsibility for tackling climate change. The US ranks second, behind China; Nicaragua ranks 131. According to the World Bank, it is already on track towards having 90% renewable energy by 2020.
As for the US, well...As for the US, well...
4.38am BST4.38am BST
04:3804:38
According to Vox, Trump has tweeted scepticism or denialism about climate change 115 times since 2011.According to Vox, Trump has tweeted scepticism or denialism about climate change 115 times since 2011.
They have compiled all of them in a list that, in other less impactful circumstances, might make for amusing reading (“Most of his tweets involve some kind of confusion between climate and weather”).They have compiled all of them in a list that, in other less impactful circumstances, might make for amusing reading (“Most of his tweets involve some kind of confusion between climate and weather”).
It snowed over 4 inches this past weekend in New York City. It is still October. So much for Global Warming.It snowed over 4 inches this past weekend in New York City. It is still October. So much for Global Warming.
In the 1920's people were worried about global cooling--it never happened. Now it's global warming. Give me a break!In the 1920's people were worried about global cooling--it never happened. Now it's global warming. Give me a break!
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
The World Bank is tying poverty to ‘climate change’ http://t.co/wZ9ofqxJ And we wonder why international organizations are ineffective.The World Bank is tying poverty to ‘climate change’ http://t.co/wZ9ofqxJ And we wonder why international organizations are ineffective.
The problem w/ the concept of "global warming" is that the U.S. is spending a fortune on "fixing it" while China & others do nothing!The problem w/ the concept of "global warming" is that the U.S. is spending a fortune on "fixing it" while China & others do nothing!
California senator Kamala Harris tweeted the link with a wry observation care of Maya Angelou.California senator Kamala Harris tweeted the link with a wry observation care of Maya Angelou.
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." —Maya Angelou #ParisAgreement https://t.co/nlrmhZCDIH"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." —Maya Angelou #ParisAgreement https://t.co/nlrmhZCDIH
4.29am BST4.29am BST
04:2904:29
An interesting perspective from Guardian Australia’s opinion team – Indigenous knowledges, compiled and refined over tens of thousands of years, have the greatest potential to sustain human life on this planet:An interesting perspective from Guardian Australia’s opinion team – Indigenous knowledges, compiled and refined over tens of thousands of years, have the greatest potential to sustain human life on this planet:
“And yet, even while the planet continues to heat up, people still don’t connect the dots. Many people still completely undervalue Indigenous knowledges, in spite of people like award-winning scientist, broadcaster and environmentalist, Dr David Suzuki urging society and our institutions not to. On his last trip here, Suzuki said that ‘Australia could learn from its Indigenous peoples ... to me the paradigm shift is that we have to see the world as Indigenous people see it.’.”“And yet, even while the planet continues to heat up, people still don’t connect the dots. Many people still completely undervalue Indigenous knowledges, in spite of people like award-winning scientist, broadcaster and environmentalist, Dr David Suzuki urging society and our institutions not to. On his last trip here, Suzuki said that ‘Australia could learn from its Indigenous peoples ... to me the paradigm shift is that we have to see the world as Indigenous people see it.’.”
4.25am BST4.25am BST
04:2504:25
Buildings go green the world overBuildings go green the world over
Paris City Hall was lit up green after trump stupid & dangerous decision.💚 #ParisAgreement #ActOnClimatepic.twitter.com/0YwpaFa9f6Paris City Hall was lit up green after trump stupid & dangerous decision.💚 #ParisAgreement #ActOnClimatepic.twitter.com/0YwpaFa9f6
World: The Empire State stands with you. NY shines green for our planet, our health and our children's future. #ParisAgreement @NYGovCuomo pic.twitter.com/F4MxwL11C3World: The Empire State stands with you. NY shines green for our planet, our health and our children's future. #ParisAgreement @NYGovCuomo pic.twitter.com/F4MxwL11C3
NYC's City Hall lit up green in solidarity with the #ParisAgreement pic.twitter.com/fS7neQp0AcNYC's City Hall lit up green in solidarity with the #ParisAgreement pic.twitter.com/fS7neQp0Ac
Tonight the Wilson Building turns green in honor of DC's continued commitment to the #ParisAgreement. #ClimateMayors pic.twitter.com/beqQyVEISzTonight the Wilson Building turns green in honor of DC's continued commitment to the #ParisAgreement. #ClimateMayors pic.twitter.com/beqQyVEISz
Exiting the #ParisAgreement may make us see red & feel blue, but the Wilson Building's lit up green tonight to prove the fight endures pic.twitter.com/gRUMDtbXlqExiting the #ParisAgreement may make us see red & feel blue, but the Wilson Building's lit up green tonight to prove the fight endures pic.twitter.com/gRUMDtbXlq
Boston City Hall lit up in green in support of the Paris Climate Accord. #wbz pic.twitter.com/8SVgl0QEkrBoston City Hall lit up in green in support of the Paris Climate Accord. #wbz pic.twitter.com/8SVgl0QEkr
GOING GREEN: Governor Cuomo directed 1 World Trade Center to be lit green tonight in support of the Paris Accord on climate change. pic.twitter.com/FJBis4gxrAGOING GREEN: Governor Cuomo directed 1 World Trade Center to be lit green tonight in support of the Paris Accord on climate change. pic.twitter.com/FJBis4gxrA
Montreal City Hall is lit up in green tonight, in support of the Paris Accord's climate change framework (credit:@ABelandRC) pic.twitter.com/CidXRixzwdMontreal City Hall is lit up in green tonight, in support of the Paris Accord's climate change framework (credit:@ABelandRC) pic.twitter.com/CidXRixzwd
4.12am BST4.12am BST
04:1204:12
The Elders, the independent global group campaigning for human rights chaired by Kofi Annan, has condemned Trump’s decision in reiterating their commitment to moving away from fossil fuels.The Elders, the independent global group campaigning for human rights chaired by Kofi Annan, has condemned Trump’s decision in reiterating their commitment to moving away from fossil fuels.
Annan said the Paris agreement was born out of a desire to find a cooperative solution to “the great existential threat of our time”: “While the US withdrawal weakens that international accord, it will not trigger its demise.”Annan said the Paris agreement was born out of a desire to find a cooperative solution to “the great existential threat of our time”: “While the US withdrawal weakens that international accord, it will not trigger its demise.”
"While US withdrawal weakens #ParisAgreement, it'll not trigger its demise” –@KofiAnnan https://t.co/goGRZl5c1v #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/6pSLjoMYlq"While US withdrawal weakens #ParisAgreement, it'll not trigger its demise” –@KofiAnnan https://t.co/goGRZl5c1v #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/6pSLjoMYlq
Mary Robinson, a former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, said the US was a “rogue state on the international stage”, but action was ongoing at state level, in cities, in businesses and communities across the country.Mary Robinson, a former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, said the US was a “rogue state on the international stage”, but action was ongoing at state level, in cities, in businesses and communities across the country.
“A rogue state" –Mary Robinson on @POTUS withdrawing US from #ParisAgreement on #ClimateChange https://t.co/goGRZl5c1v #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/ZFK5SkbQFb“A rogue state" –Mary Robinson on @POTUS withdrawing US from #ParisAgreement on #ClimateChange https://t.co/goGRZl5c1v #ActOnClimate pic.twitter.com/ZFK5SkbQFb
The Elders repeated their concern at the Trump administration’s decision not to provide climate finance to help developing countries. Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, said it weakened “already frayed bonds of trust between developed and developing countries”:The Elders repeated their concern at the Trump administration’s decision not to provide climate finance to help developing countries. Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, said it weakened “already frayed bonds of trust between developed and developing countries”:
“It places an enormous burden on other industrialised countries to mobilise the $100 billion per year promised to support climate action in developing countries.”“It places an enormous burden on other industrialised countries to mobilise the $100 billion per year promised to support climate action in developing countries.”
4.03am BST
04:03
In a televised address, French president Emmanuel Macron said Trump’s pulling out of the Paris agreement was a mistake. He urged scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and anyone disappointed by the decision to see France as a “second homeland”, adding: “I call on them come and work here with us.”
“The Paris agreement remain irreversible and will be implemented not just by France but by all the other nations. We will succeed because we are fully committed, because wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again.”
4.00am BST
04:00
Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, said in a memo to employees that he tried on Tuesday to talk President Trump into seeing through the Paris deal but “it wasn’t enough”. CNN obtained the message:
I want to reassure you that today’s developments will have no impact on Apple’s efforts to protect the environment. We power nearly all of our operations with renewable energy, which we believe is an example of something that’s good for our planet and makes good business sense as well.”
Decision to withdraw from the #ParisAgreeement was wrong for our planet. Apple is committed to fight climate change and we will never waver.
Earlier, Tesla’s Elon Musk and Disney’s Robert Iger announced their resignation from Trump’s council on principle. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai of Google have also expressed disappointment.
3.55am BST
03:55
Guardian Australia’s political editor, Katharine Murphy, has written on the impact of the US’ decision on Australia’s tortured climate change policy debate:
The US president’s willingness to surrender global leadership on important issues is, from this distance, truly unfathomable. Even his withdrawal patter on Friday morning was pathetic. America was out, but would come back in if it could get a better deal. America was out, but possibly back in, because the citizens of Pittsburgh apparently don’t care about climate change. ...
I know there’s a valid school of thought that says silly Trump doesn’t matter, that America’s recklessness will galvanise the public around the importance of climate change, that the trend towards decarbonisation is now hard-baked in to the system – but that’s not how things look if you sit on the Australian government’s perch.
For prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and his government, Trump’s timing is deeply unhelpful, to put it mildly.”
3.52am BST
03:52
Vatican senior official: US exit 'disaster for everyone'
A senior official of the Vatican said it would see a US exit from the Paris agreement as a slap in the face, Reuters reported before Trump announced his decision.
Pope Francis, who strongly backed the deal, gave Trump a signed copy of his 2015 encyclical letter calling for the environment to be protected from the effects of climate change at his meeting with the US president last month.
In a separate meeting, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, urged not to quit the Paris accord.
“If he really does [pull out], it would be a huge slap in the face for us,” Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, head of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, told the Rome newspaper La Repubblica and later confirmed to Reuters. “It will be a disaster for everyone.”
Sorondo said he believed the US oil lobby was behind the decision and that the industry had “maneuvered” Trump.
A withdrawal “would not only be a disaster but completely unscientific,” he said. “Saying that we need to rely on coal and oil is like saying that the earth is not round. It is an absurdity dictated by the need to make money.”
3.44am BST
03:44
After an Australian political scientist argued that benefits could emerge from the US’ decision to renege on Paris, Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, has voiced similar on Twitter.
1. I'm not sure @RealDonaldTrump pulling the US out of the Paris Agreement is such a bad thing. We may be surprised at how things play out.
2. The figures Trump quoted on the costs of Paris to US are pure tosh. If that's all he's got, it's trivially debunked, will not age well.
3. It's no longer possible to pretend Trump is anything other than a buffoon. This will have domestic as well as international consequences.
4. Internationally, US officials will be shocked by their pariah status, not just on climate. The world has moved on since the Dubya years.
5. Far from encouraging other countries to quit Paris, it will strengthen their resolve. The EU and India must now deliver or be humiliated.
5. Far from encouraging other countries to quit Paris, it will strengthen their resolve. The EU and India must now deliver or be humiliated.
6. Domestically, this should mark the point when sensible Republicans finally start rowing back to the scientific and social mainstream.
7. This will spur a tidal wave of climate action by US states, cities, businesses & citizens. I bet the US will meet its Paris 2030 pledge.
8. So pulling out of Paris stiffens everyone else's resolve to act on climate, marginalising Trump and the anti-climate headbangers. Sweet!
9. Finally FWIW: EU leaders miscalculated in ruling out renegotiation. It's a voluntary deal FFS! Let him demand an extra scoop or whatever.
10. I nearly forgot! A number of clean energy technologies are beyond the tipping point & will keep eating fossil market share in any case.
It remains to be seen whether Liebreich’s predictions will come true, though as he says: “I’m wrong around 30% of the time”.
At least on his fourth point, one could reasonably argue that threshold was passed long ago.
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: